HH Shaikh Khalid: FIVB U21 to cement Bahrain’s status as international sporting destination

Manama, July 15 (BNA): Supreme Council for Youth and Sports First Deputy Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) President, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, said that hosting the FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship 2019 is in line with the BOC’s strategy to cement the Kingdom of Bahrain’s status as an international sporting destination. HH Shaikh Khalid noted that staging major competitions of this level is a testament to the excellent organisational capabilities and warm hospitality of Bahrain, as well as its great reputation amongst the global sporting community. HH Shaikh Khalid expressed his great confidence in the tournament’s Higher Organising Committee, under the leadership of Bahrain Volleyball Association (BVA) President Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, on delivering a successful and memorable tournament. He said that hosting this event also further strengthens Bahrain’s relationship with the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport’s governing body. HH Shaikh Khalid wished Bahrain’s national junior volleyball team great success and encouraged them to do their best in order to raise the Kingdom of Bahrain’s flag to the highest in the world championship. Meanwhile, Bahrain have finalised their team line-up ahead of the start of competition on Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Shaikh Isa Sports City in Riffa. The squad includes 14 players, all of whom are aged 20 years old or below, making Bahrain one of the youngest teams in the world championship. Four of the players are just 18, including middle blocker Hassan Al Shakhori, opposite hitter Jassim Mohammed Turki, and liberos Hussain Sultan and Bader Nasser. Opposite hitter Sayed Mohammed Alabar, middle blockers Jawher Fares and Mohammed Jassim Abdulla, setter Mohamed Haroona and outside hitters Hussain Ali Thamer and Hasan Alhaddad are all 19 years of age. The 20-year-olds on the team are setters Saif Yusuf Saif and Yousuf Saif along with opposite hitters Mahmood Ahmed Mohammed and Sayed Yusuf Jaffer. The Bahrainis continue their final training days this week and on Monday evening were scheduled to play a tune-up game against Iran at the tournament venue. The Iranians were one of the first foreign national teams to arrive in the Kingdom ahead of the start of the world championship. The other teams will continue to arrive on Tuesday. Off the court, BVA Vice-President Jehad Khalfan chaired the third meeting of the tournament’s Executive Committee. It was held at the BVA headquarters at Shaikh Isa Sports City in Riffa. Also in attendance was BVA Secretary General and Tournament Director Feras Helwachi and heads of the various working committees. Together, they discussed all the preparations regarding the event. At the end of the gathering, Khalfan stressed on the importance of coordination and cooperation amongst the working committees throughout the world championship, in order to ensure its utmost success and the overall pleasure and comfort of the visiting delegations and officials in Bahrain. Sixteen countries representing five confederations under the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) are taking part. These under-21 national teams have been divided into four groups of four for the opening stage. Bahrain are in Pool A along with China, Morocco and Puerto Rico. Pool B includes Cuba, Argentina, Egypt and South Korea; while Pool C features Iran, Russia, the Czech Republic and Tunisia. Pool D is composed of Italy, Canada, Brazil and defending champions Poland. The FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship 2019 is the 20th edition of the prestigious competition. Bahrain is hosting the event for the third time, having previously staged it in 1987 and 1997. Bahrain Roster (jersey no., name, age, position) Players: 1 Sayed Mohammed Alabar, 19, opposite hitter; 2 Jawher Fares, 19, middle blocker; 3 Saif Yusuf Saif, 20, setter; 4 Mohammed Jassim Abdulla, 19, middle blocker; 7 Mohammed Haroona, 19, setter; 8 Hassan Al Shakhori, 18, middle blocker; 10 Jasim Mohammed Turki, 18, opposite hitter; 11 Hussain Ali Thamer, 19, outside hitter; 12 Bader Nasser, 18, libero; 13 Hasan Alhaddad, 19, outside hitter; 14 Mahmood Ahmed Mohammed, 20, opposite hitter; 15 Yousuf Saif, 20, setter; 17 Sayed Yusuf Jaffer, 20, opposite hitter; 18 Hussain Sultan, 18, libero. Coaching and Administrative Staff: Head Coach, Yousuf Khalifa; Assistant Coach, Protic Nebojsa; Doctor, Pocekovic Aleksandar; Team Director, Abdulla Almahroos.