Top eight matches get underway today

TDT | Manama              

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The excitement and intensity are set to go up a notch in the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship 2023, with matches in the elite eight getting underway today in Bahrain. The nations set to vie for the coveted title have been divided into two pools, with a single round-robin to be played in each to determine the advancing semi-finalists.

Pool E consists of Bulgaria, Iran, Poland and Thailand while Pool F features Argentina, Belgium, Brazil and defending champions Italy. Action in the elite eight begins with Iran taking on Poland at 2pm today, to be followed at 5pm by Brazil facing Belgium and Bulgaria playing Thailand.

Argentina and Italy then go head-to-head at 8pm. Also starting from today will be games to determine the final ranking from ninth to 16th. The teams in this bracket have also been divided into two pools, with Pool G comprising hosts Bahrain, Canada, India and Tunisia, and Pool H featuring the Czech Republic, Egypt, Mexico and the USA.

Today’s fixtures see Egypt taking on the USA and Canada facing Tunisia at 11am, to be followed at 2pm by the Czech Republic playing Mexico. At 8pm, Bahrain will go up against India. Heading into the competition’s next stage, only Brazil finished the preliminaries with the maximum nine points, although Bulgaria, Iran and Argentina joined them as the unbeaten teams so far in the tournament. All are welcome to attend the matches, which are being held between two arenas at Isa Sports City in Riffa. Entrance is free of charge.