Tough competition is expected in the AVC Challenge Cup for Men as reigning champs Thailand and strong contenders including Qatar, China, Korea and Australia will fight all-out for the lone ticket
Bangkok, April 12, 2024 – Defending champions Vietnam, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei and hosts Philippines are contenders teams qualified for the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women, due to take place at Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila from May 22 to 29, 2024, vying for the lone spot up for grabs at the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup later this year.
AVC, the Asia’s volleyball-governing body, on Thursday circulated email with related attachment issues among its affiliated National Federations, inviting them to submit their entries for the 2024 AVC Challenger Cup for Women, which is open to the Federations that have fulfilled their obligations and financial responsibilities with regard to the FIVB and AVC. However, the four Asian teams which are already in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League in 2024 comprising China, Japan, Thailand and Korea cannot submit their national entries for the eight-day tournament.
With reference to the email, the entry form has to be sent to both the AVC Headquarters and the organisers (Philippine National Volleyball Federation) before, but not later than April 28 and no late entry is available. Reconfirmation of number of entry by AVC will be made within April 29, with reconfirmation of participation the following day. Drawing of lots will be held on May 3.
The number of entry is limited to a maximum of 12 teams in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women (as well as the AVC Challenge Cup for Men). However, although the tournament is open to teams submitting their entries in according with the instructions set out on the competition regulations, the 12 teams qualification pathway has already been confirmed for the AVC Challenge Cup for Women. The qualified teams are as follows.
1 team: Hosts Philippines
1 team: The winner of the previous AVC Challenge Cup for Women
5 teams: The 5 best-ranked teams of the previous AVC Challenge Cup for Women
5 teams: The remaining 5 vacancies, the best world ranking teams will be considered (in case that the teams have no world ranking, the qualified teams will be decided by AVC, Volleyball World and the organisers).
As a consequence of the event, the eventual winning team in the final standing of the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women shall secure a spot at the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup, set to be held from July 4 to 7, if held in a 4-day format, or from July 5 to 7, if staged as a 3-day event. The host nation of the world-class competition which serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIVB Volleyball Nations League, has yet been announced.
At the previous edition of the AVC Challenge Cup for Women, which was held in Gresik, East Java, Indonesia between June 18 and 25, 2023, with 11 teams participating, powerful Tran Thi Thanh Thuy spearheaded Vietnam to hard-fought 3-2 win against hosts Indonesia in the final showdown to reign supreme with the Best Outside Spiker and MVP titles.
Gallant Chinese Taipei stormed past India 3-0 in the third-place playoff to contend with the bronze medal. Iran, Australia and Philippines finished 5th, 6th and 7th, with Uzbekistan, Hong Kong China, Mongolia and Macao China in 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th respectively.
With the victory in the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Women, Vietnam made their debut at the FIVB Challenger Cup in the same year in Laval, going down in straight sets to hosts France in the knockout quarterfinals to crash out of the 8-team competition. France went on to capture the crown and earn their right to compete in 2024 VNL.
2024 AVC CHALLENGE CUP FOR MEN
The 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men will be held between June 2 and 9, 2024, at Isa Bin Rashid Sport City Hall (Hall C) in Isa Town Sports City, Bahrain, with a maximum of 12 qualified teams fighting for the lone berth in the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup due to take place later in July.
AVC has already circulated email attachments to its affiliated National Federations. Each member federation must submit their official entry, in according with the instructions set out on the competition regulations, to AVC and the organisers (Bahrain Volleyball Association) no later than April 28, 2024 in order to confirm their intention of participation. No late entry is considered.
Japan and Iran are already in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and as a result, cannot submit their national entries for the AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Bahrain.
AVC will reconfirm the number of national entry no later than April 29. Confirmation for the total of participating teams will be made the following day, while drawing of lots will be held on May 3, the same day as the AVC Challenge Cup for Women.
Similarly, the 12 teams qualification pathway for AVC Challenge Cup for Men is as followed.
1 team: Hosts Bahrain
1 team: The winner of the previous AVC Challenge Cup for Men
5 teams: The 5 best-ranked teams of the previous AVC Challenge Cup for Men
5 teams: The remaining 5 vacancies, the teams with best world rankings will be be considered (in case that the teams have no world rankings, the qualified teams will be decided by AVC, Volleyball World and the organisers.
The eventual winners in this much-anticipated tournament will earn the right to compete in the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup later this year.
The previous edition of the AVC Challenge Cup for Men was organized by Chinese Taipei during July 8 and 15, 2023, with 15 strong teams participating. There, Thailand made their mark to stamp their authority over the eight-day event following their exceptional 3-0 victory over Bahrain in the final showdown.
South Korea powered past Vietnam 3-1 in the third-place playoff to return with bronze medal. Australia came in 5th place, while Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Hong Kong China, Macao China, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia and India respectively finished 6th to 15th.
With the maiden victory, Thailand secured a berth in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Doha, but their determination and expectation could not be that high as the Thai team went down 0-3 to hosts Qatar in the knockout quarterfinals to crash out of the tough competition.
China, the lowest-ranked Challenger team of the 2023 VNL to suffer relegation, also played the Challenger Cup in Doha, but went down 1-3 to Ukraine. Qatar moved on to eventually set up final showdown with Turkey, but lost a hard-fought five-set thriller to the strong visitors.
Therefore, it’s likely that both Qatar and China will submit their national entries for the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Men this time and if so, they could be a thorn in the defending champions Thailand’s flesh.
QUICK LINKS
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
Mikasa Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/mikasasports_official
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation