Young spikers set for Dubai world meet

Dubai - UAE in tough group; Argentina, Cuba, Russia formidable

The second major youth volleyball meet at the world level reaches the UAE when the second FIVB Men's U-23 World Championship gets going in Dubai from August 24 to 31 at the Al Nasr and Al Ahli indoor stadia.
Entry is free to the event where there will be a local flavour to the menu on Day 1 when the UAE take on Asian champions Iran in Group A at the Nasr Club complex, adjacent to the India Club and Indian High School in Dubai.
In terms of local interaction and crowd support for the sport so passionately followed by the expats here, Iran, Egypt and Tunisia will be present after their continental achievements this year.
The stadia would have been jam packed had former world U-19 runners-up India (2003) only made it to the quarterfinal in the Asian U23 championships in the new Myanmarese capital Naypyidaw  this year. But they finished a disappointing eighth.
The surprise package of the Myanmar tourney was the show of Chinese Taipei who got the bronze medal beating mainland China 3-1 in the playoff before Iran beat South Korea 3-0 in the title round. Iran and the peninsular men are in Dubai by virtue of their 1/2 finish in the Asian meet.
The other reps for the Dubai showdown are the top African qualifiers (in order) - Egypt and Tunisia;  Russia and Italy who made it as 1/2s from their European U20 rankings; Argentina and Brazil from south American as the U22 toppers; Cuba and Mexico as the central/north American 1/2s; and new forces in international volleyball Turkey, who filled in the final berth as the highest ranking team in the world after the quota route in the qualification norm.
Iran's superb show in the ongoing world u19 event in Argentina goes to show the depths they possess on the age group world stage.
UAE coach Morad Sennoun's 14-man squad returned to Dubai  on Monday after a preparatory camp in Serbia where they performed exceedingly well against locals outfits OK Zirovnica, OK Astec Triglav, Red Star youth, Avalar, Proleter Zrenjanin, Pancevo and Red Star Belgrade.
Sennoun told media: "We did very well in our warm-up games but I want more improvement as we are up against the best in the symbol event of the sport in U23." he said, "The players' ability to remain focused in group A will be our main target."
The hosts are in Pool A with Iran, Italy, Cuba, South Korea and Egypt, while Pool B consists of defending champions Brazil who have pre-event favourites Argentina, highly rated Russia, Turkey, Mexico and Tunisia to challenge them.
Russia will take on Tunisia in the competition opener at Al Ahli at noon at Al Nasr Club, while the UAE will feature in the final match of the day when they take on Iranians at 8.30pm at the same venue.
moni@khaleejtimes.com