FIVB Grand Prix action starts – Women’s Volleyball News
Finally the wait is over and the 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix will take centre stage today, Friday, August 5. The women’s volleyball event will take place for the next three weeks and it reach its final stage on August 21. The world’s best 16 women’s squads
have qualified for the exciting event. Poland, Dominican Republic, United States,Serbia, Italy, Germany, Russia, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Argentina, China, Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, and Thailand are on board to compete for the title trophy of the 2011 FIVB
Grand Prix.
According to set formula of Federation International de Volleyball (FIVB), tournament will be opened with the preliminary round. The first stage of the tournament will be staged in different countries throughout the world. The Preliminary round will span
over three weeks and teams will be playing in the classification of four pools. A total of 8 matches will be played per day. After completing the preliminary stage, the tournament will enter the Final Round. The Chinese city of Macau has been selected to serve
as host for the influential Final Round of 2011 FIVB Grand Prix.
The Pool toppers will go straight into the semi-finals and further contest for the first positions of the competition, while the rest of the teams will play in the classification matches for different other positions.
The US Women’s National Volleyball Team is defending the title this year as they defeated 8-time gold-medallist team of Brazil last year. Italy finished third at the previous edition of FIVB Grand Prix.
Match schedule – Day 1
Initially, the teams have been placed into Pool A, B, C, and D.
Pool A
Poland, Italy, Dominican Republic, and Argentina will open the tournament in Pool A. The Polish City Bydgoszcz will host the matches, while Luczniczka Sports Hall will set up the field of play. Host Poland and Argentina will break the ice in first match,
which will start at 16:30 local time. Italy will take on Dominican Republic in the second match of Pool A at 1900 local time. The opening matches of the tournament are likely to attract scores of volleyball fans to the arena.
Pool B
Pool B is comprised of teams from Russia, Peru, Thailand, and Cuba. Pool B teams have installed their bases in the city of Nakhon Pathom in Thailand. First match will feature Russia and Cuba, while host Thailand will clash against Peru in the second match.
The matches will start at 15:00 and 17:30, respectively.
Pool C
Korean city of Busan is the host of Pool C in the first week. World Champion Brazil will meet Japan in the opening match in the afternoon. The second match will involve Korea and Germany. Both matches will be played at the Sajik Indoor Gymnasium.
Pool D
Defending champions U.S.A. will open the tournament by taking on Serbia in Pool D. China will put up against Kazakhstan in second match. Chinese city Luohe will provide the ground for matches.
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