Kuwait set for Oman showdown in West Asia Volleyball Championship semifinals

Kuwaiti players attempt to block a spike from Qatar players.

MUSCAT, July 19: Kuwait secured a semi-final meeting with host Oman at the second West Asia Men’s Volleyball Championship, currently being held at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat. The tournament will conclude tomorrow with the final.

The other semi-final will see Qatar face Iraq, with the two winners advancing to the championship match and the defeated sides meeting in the third-place playoff.

The Blues reached the last four after finishing second in Group A with three points, behind Qatar, which topped the group with six points. Oman led Group B with seven points, while Iraq followed in second place with six points after the preliminary round.

The four semi-finalists will now battle for a place in the final as they chase the West Asia title following impressive displays in the group stage.

Kuwait arrived at the tournament after a comprehensive preparation programme that included a training camp in Cairo, where the team played four friendly matches. During the camp, Argentine head coach Julian Alvarez and assistant coach Zaid Al-Kazmi worked on improving the squad’s technical and physical levels while finalizing the best possible lineup ahead of the competition.

The Kuwait squad consists of Abdulnasser Al-Enezi, Rashid Anbar, Nasser Dashti, Ahmed Al-Munais, Fares Suleiman, Abdullah Fares Al-Enezi, Athbi Al-Enezi, Omar Al-Enezi, Mohammed Al-Dhafiri, Abdullah Al-Muwaineh, Fahad Saad Yaqoub, Ali Saadoun, Talal Ahmed Abdulrazzaq, and Saud Al-Duwaisan.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff