Kuwait faces Oman in a must-win clash at the Arab Volleyball Championship

Kuwait players defend during the opening match against Bahrain.

AMMAN, Jordan, Oct 8: Kuwait takes on Oman at 4 p.m. today in a crucial third-round match of the preliminary stage of the 24th Arab Volleyball Championship, being held at the Arena Hall in Amman, Jordan.

The Blues are still searching for their first win after suffering back-to-back defeats. Kuwait lost 3-1 to Algeria in the second round, while Oman edged Saudi Arabia 3-2.

Kuwait opened its campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Bahrain and has yet to register a victory. The team will now look to put its difficult start behind it and revive its hopes of advancing in the tournament.

Today’s clash is effectively a must-win for Kuwait. Another defeat would end its hopes of challenging for the Arab title and leave it competing only for a better final position. The Blues have two more preliminary-round matches after today, against Saudi Arabia on Sunday and hosting Jordan the following Tuesday.

Kuwait completed its preparations with a training camp in Cairo from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 before travelling to Amman for the championship. The tournament forms part of the national team’s preparations for its upcoming commitments.

Meanwhile, in the third round of the West Asia Beach Volleyball Championship in Doha, Kuwait’s women’s team split their two matches against hosts Qatar, winning one 2-0 and losing the other by the same score. In the men’s competition, Kuwait suffered a 2-0 defeat to Qatar.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff