Oman set for AVC Championship draw as Japan challenge emerges

MUSCAT: The national men’s volleyball team will eye on the draw of the AVC Men’s Continental Championship which will take place on Tuesday. The slot A1 (Pool A) will be headed by Japan as the host country while slot B1 (Pool B) will be Iran as the reigning runner-up, since Japan won the previous edition.
Oman team is currently under a busy schedule to gear up for the Asian event which is scheduled to take place in Fukuoka, Japan, from September 4 to 13. The Asian prestigious championship will serve as a qualifier for the LA 2028 Olympic Games, with the champion earning Asia's direct qualification berth to the Olympics. In addition, the top three teams will qualify for the 2027 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup. The confirmed teams for the Asian event included: Japan, Iran, Qatar, South Korea, China, Australia, India, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Thailand and Sultanate of Oman.
Oman will enter the competition with renewed confidence following an impressive run of results during the current season. The national team captured the gold medal at the second West Asian Men’s Volleyball Championship in Muscat last month, producing a memorable performance on home soil. Oman defeated Qatar 3-0 in the final at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex to claim the regional title.
Also, Oman finished ninth overall in the AVC Men’s Volleyball Cup in Ahmedabad, India, in last June. The team had recorded a notable 3-2 comeback victory over Qatar in the group stage. The team also had pushed South Korea to five sets before losing 3-2 and suffered a 3-1 defeat against Indonesia in another competitive encounter.
INTENSIVE PREPARATION
Oman head coach Nizar al Shukaili from Tunisia said that the team entered an important phase of preparation as it targets peak readiness for the Asian championship. “We have embarked on a serious and intensive preparation phase in anticipation of competing in the Asian Volleyball Championship in Japan this September,” Al Shukaili told Oman Observer.
“We are fully aware of the magnitude of the responsibility and the strength of the continental competition against the best teams in Asia. However, we have great confidence in our national team players and their determination to deliver a performance that reflects the significant technical development Omani volleyball has witnessed.” he added
The Tunisian coach affirmed that the current preparation programme is focused on developing both the physical and tactical aspects of the team. “Our focus at this stage is on improving physical conditioning and tactical cohesion, ensuring that we reach the highest level of readiness and deliver a performance worthy of the Sultanate of Oman and the aspirations of our fans,” he said.
FULL READINESS
Youssef al Badawi, Acting Secretary-General of the Oman Volleyball Association (OVA), said that the national team entered a closed training camp featuring intensive sessions designed to raise its readiness for the tournament. “We are working to provide everything necessary to support the players and prepare them for this highly anticipated continental competition,” Al Badawi said.
He described the upcoming draw as an important milestone in the preparations. “ The Asian draw on Tuesday will be an important event, bringing together the elite Asian teams. We are confident in our team’s ability to face the challenges with high spirits and great determination,” he said.
Al Badawi also highlighted the positive feedback received from officials of the Asian Volleyball Confederation and representatives of national federations regarding Oman’s recent performances. “The team has received widespread praise from AVC officials and representatives of national federations for the outstanding technical levels it has demonstrated. This reflects the qualitative leap our team has achieved, and we have full confidence in the coaching staff, led by Nizar al Shukaili, and in the players’ resolve,” he added.
“Our West Asian title has given the team greater confidence and motivation to continue improving its world ranking,” Al Badawi said. “Our objective now is to achieve strong results at the Asian championship and continue building Oman’s presence on the continental and international volleyball scene.” he ended.