Recap of volleyball tournament at 2011 Pan Arab Games – Volleyball update
The city of Doha in Qatar recently hosted the 12th quadrennial Pan Arab Games, which took place from December 6 to 23.
It was a multi-sport event that featured a plethora of different games. Khalifa International Stadium, which has the history of hosting 2006 Asian Games and 2011 AFC Asian Cup, set up the field of play for this edition of Pan Arab Games. Alongside other
games, the sport of volleyball was also featured as a special entity. The volleyball tournament at the Pan Arab Games completed its run from December 10-21. A total of 11 teams contested their skills in the men’s competition, while five teams fought for volleyball
supremacy in the women’s tournament.
In the men’s section, teams from Saudi Arab, host Qatar, Palestine, Oman, Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Algeria, Jordan, and Bahrain jumped on the board. Likewise, women’s teams from United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Algeria took part in the campaign.
Men and women from Egypt stole the show in both categories of the tournament and secured gold-ware. Men’s team from Qatar and Algerian ladies finished second in their respective sections. After a tough competition, Algerian men and U.A.E. ladies settled for
bronze medal victories.
Men’s teams were divided into two groups in the first preliminary round of the tournament. Group A consisted of five teams, while rest of the six teams were placed in Group B. Each team in Group A played three matches and top two teams qualified for the
Final Round. The Arab volleyball fans witnessed some thrilling encounters of volleyball at the Khalifa International Stadium. The hosts used the competitive edge of playing under familiar conditions and reserved a berth in the Final Round of the competition.
Kuwaiti men also followed the footsteps of hosts and joined them in the crucial final round.
On the other hand, teams in Group B played five matches each, promoting two top teams in the next round of the tournament. Egypt and Algeria proved to be the best teams in Group B and clawed their way to the Final Round.
In the Final Round, Kuwait went against Egypt, whereas Algeria was challenged by Qatar. Egyptian men clean-swept the Kuwaiti team and earned a ticket to the final showdown of the volleyball tournament at the 2011 Pan Arab Games. The host Qatar treated the
Algerian counterparts in the same way and clinched 3-0 success in the second semi-final. Furthermore, Egypt and Qatar competed for the title trophy in the final match. The hosts failed to dismantle the power of Egyptian team and dropped the final match in
straight sets. Eventually, Egypt emerged as the No.1 team and seized gold medal. Qatar and Algeria finished second and third, respectively.
The women’s tournament covered its length in just one go. Each team appeared in four matches and final points were calculated, in order to define proper positions for participants. Egypt shone out with gold medal victory as the team remained undefeated and
finished with 4-0 record. Algerian women lost one match and settled for second slot in the rankings, while team of U.A.E. finished third on account of winning two matches.
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