- AVC Sports Events Council chairman Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, middle, poses in a group photo with the organisers during the drawing ceremony of the 1st Asian Men’s U23 Volleyball Championship in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on February 16
- AVC Sports Events Council chairman Mr Shanrit Wongprasert conducts the draw of lots.
- AVC Sports Evens Council chairman Mr Shanrit Wongprasert shakes hands with Myanmar Minister of Sports Mr Tint San
- AVC Sports Events Council chairman Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, third from left, in conversation with Myanmar Minister of Sports Mr Tint San.
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, February 16, 2015 – Hosts Myanmar will be pitted against Maldives in their opening match of the first Asian Men’s U23 Volleyball Championship following the draw conducted in the Myanmar capital city on Monday.
A large field of 19 teams have confirmed their participation in the inaugural competition due to be held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from May 12 to 20. They comprise Australia, Afghanistan, China, Indonesia, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, the Philippines, Qatar, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam.
According to the draw, the results of the previous Asian Men’s Junior Volleyball Championship in Bahrain last year were taken into consideration for seedings which saw hosts Myanmar drawn in Pool A, with the Asian Men’s Junior champions Iran, runners-up China and third-place Korea in Pool B, Pool C and Pool D respectively
AVC Sports Events Council chairman Shanrit Wongprasert conducted the draw of lots at Horizon Lake View Resort Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw, with an excellent support from Myanmar Minister of Sports Mr Tint San.
Drawn alongside Myanmar in Pool A were Thailand, which finished eighth in the Asian Men’s Junior Championship, Afghanistan, Maldives and Saudi Arabia. Pool B comprises Iran, Qatar, the Philippines, Malaysia and India.
Pool C consists of China, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Turkmenistan and Australia, with Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Kazakhstan in Pool D.
The pool round-robin preliminaries will be held from May 12 to 16. The opening matches see hosts Myanmar take on Maldives, Thailand challenge Saudi Arabia, Qatar meet Malaysia, the Philippines pitted against India, China face Turkmenistan, Vietnam battle with Chinese Taipei and Korea test their mettle with Kazakhstan.
After the conclusion of the preliminaries on May 16, the draw of lots will be conducted between the top two teams in each pool. The teams which have already played among each other will not play again. The same procedure will be applied for the teams finishing third and fourth of each pool.
At the completion of the nine-day championship, only top two teams will qualify for the 2nd FIVB Men’s U23 World Championship in Dubai, the United Arabs Emirates from August 24 to 31.
Results of the 1st Asian Men’s U23 Volleyball Championship draw are as follows
Pool A: Myanmar (organisers), Thailand (8), Afghanistan, Maldives, Saudi Arabia
Pool B: Iran (1), Qatar (7), the Philippines, Malaysia, India
Pool C: China (2), Chinese Taipei (6), Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Australia
Pool D: Korea (3), Japan (4), Indonesia, Kazakhstan
Match schedule for preliminary round
May 12
Myanmar v Maldives
Thailand v Saudi Arabia
Qatar v Malaysia
The Philippines v India
China v Turkmenistan
Vietnam v Chinese Taipei
Korea v Kazakhstan
May 13
Afghanistan v Saudi Arabia
Myanmar v Thailand
Iran v India
Qatar v the Philippines
Australia v Chinese Taipei
China v Vietnam
Japan v Indonesia
May 14
Maldives v Thailand
Afghanistan v Myanmar
Malaysia v the Philippines
Iran v Qatar
Turkmenistan v Vietnam
Australia v China
Kazakhstan v Japan
Korea v Indonesia
May 15
Saudi Arabia v Myanmar
Maldives v Afghanistan
India v Qatar
Malaysia v Iran
Chinese Taipei v China
Turkmenistan v Australia
Indonesia v Kazakhstan
May 16
Thailand v Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia v Maldives
The Philippines v Iran
India v Malaysia
Vietnam v Australia
Chinese Taipei v Turkmenistan
Japan v Korea