Bahrain Celebrate First Volleyball Medal at Islamic Solidarity Games
Bahrain’s men’s volleyball team captured the bronze medal at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games yesterday with a 3–1 win over Qatar at Riyadh’s Boulevard Arena.
It was a fitting conclusion to a resilient campaign under head coach Arnaud Josserand, who guided the team to bounce back from early challenges and finish on the podium. Having already beaten Qatar in the round-robin stage two days earlier, Bahrain entered the rematch with confidence and purpose.
They started strongly, taking the first set 25–18 with disciplined defense and sharp attacking play. Qatar levelled the contest by claiming the second 25–20, but Bahrain regrouped and closed out the third and fourth sets 25–21 and 25–20 to seal a well-deserved victory.
Team captain Naser Anan, who has led the national side for more than eight years, reflected on the result with pride and perspective.
“Alhamdulilah for this bronze — Bahrain’s first-ever volleyball medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games. As captain, I am proud of what we have achieved and how far this team has come. We’ve faced Qatar many times in recent years and lost to them more than once, so this win means a lot to us. Of course, we wanted the gold, but this medal is a step forward. I’m proud of all the championships we’ve won under my leadership, and inshAllah we will keep working to make the Kingdom proud.”
With the bronze medal secured, Bahrain will now turn their focus to the Arab Challenge Cup, which will be held in Jordan from November 28 to December 5. The quick turnaround leaves little time to rest, but Josserand’s men will be eager to carry their momentum forward and continue their strong form on the regional stage.
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