TEHRAN – Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) conducted drawing of lots for four Asian Underage Volleyball Championships due to be held in 2024.

AVC has already completed the drawing of lots of all four championships, with representatives from host nations and participating teams in those championships actively attending on Zoom.

The drawing of lots ceremony took place at AVC Headquarters on Tuesday.

Four Asian Underage Volleyball Championships will be held this year comprising the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Championship in Thailand, the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Championship in Bahrain, the 22nd Asian Women’s U20 Championship in China and the 22nd Asian Men’s U20 Championship in Indonesia.

Thailand is hosting the Asian Women’s U18 Championship for the ninth time and Nakhon Pathom is no stranger to the championship as it will be three in succession that the city in central Thailand with an approximate 50km west of Bangkok is due to host the championship from June 16 to 23, which serves as the qualification tournament for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship. Nakhon Pathom was also set to organize the 13th edition in 2020 but the championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Tuesday’s draw results, hosts Thailand are in Pool A with Uzbekistan and Macau, China, while reigning and consecutive eight-time champions Japan, Iran and Philippines are in Pool B. Pool C comprises former consecutive four-time champions China, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, with Korea, Chinese Taipei, India and Australia in Pool D.

On June 16, the first day of the eight-day championship, Uzbekistan are due to take on Macao, China in Pool A, Iran will play Philippines in Pool B, Kazakhstan will meet Hong Kong, China in Pool C, with Korea starting their campaign against Australia and India challenging Chinese Taipei in Pool D.

At the previous edition in 2022, Japan narrowly beat China 3-2 in the final showdown to retain their title, nine in total, while Korea stunned hosts Thailand 3-2 for bronze medal. All four teams made it to the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship.

Jiangmen, China will organize the 22nd Asian Women’s U20 Championship from July 1 to 8, with 12 teams testing their mettle to vie for top two teams to represent Asia in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship.

The participating teams comprise hosts China, former 12-time champions and 2022 silver medalists, Kazakhstan and Australia in Pool A, defending and seven-time champions Japan, India and Hong Kong China in Pool B. Thailand, third place at the previous edition in 2022 in Nur-Sultan City in Kazakhstan, Iran and Vietnam are in Pool C, with Korea, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand in Pool D.

The first day of the championship on July 1 sees Kazakhstan play Australia in Pool A, Japan take on India in Pool B, Thailand meet Vietnam in Pool C and Korea challenge Chinese Taipei in Pool D.

Meanwhile, a total of 21 teams had submitted their entries in the 22nd Asian Men’s U20 Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia from July 23 to 30. However, due to the modified regulations reported by Dr Eom during the AVC Sports Events Council Meeting early this year, it was informed that from this year onwards, not more than 16 teams will be accepted for the Asian underage events. As a result, selections and qualifications are necessarily required for the Asian Men’s U20 Championship to determine only 16 in the teams participation. 

This is for the first time in history that Indonesia will host this championship after a successful organization of the AVC Challenge Cup for Women in 2023 in Gresik.

According to the draw results, hosts Indonesia are drawn in Pool A with Saudi Arabia, Eastern Zone and Oceania, while Pool B comprises defending and consecutive two-time champions Iran, former four-time winners China, Chinese Taipei and Qatar. Pool C consists of India, silver medalists at the previous edition in 2022 in Bahrain, Bangladesh, former three-time champions Japan and Kuwait, with former six-time winners Korea, Thailand, Central Zone and Southeastern Zone in Pool D.

Teams to first strut their stuffs in zonal qualifications for their places in the 16-team Asian Men’s U20 Championship are Hong Kong China, Macao China and Mongolia from Eastern Zone, Australia and New Zealand from Oceania, Cambodia and Vietnam from Southeastern Zone and Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from Central Zone. One qualified team apiece from Eastern Zone, Oceania, Southeastern Zone and Central Zone will receive the AVC’s green light to compete in Surabaya.

The 15th Asian Men’s U18 Championship in Manama, Bahrain from July 28 to August 4 has attracted a total of 19 teams to participate, but, due to the modified regulations, only 16 teams are excepted.

Hosts Bahrain, Thailand, Hong Kong China and Australia are in Pool A, while defending and consecutive three-time champions Japan, Chinese Taipei, Western Zone 1 and Central Zone 2 are in Pool B. Pool C consists of former seven-time champions Iran, China, Western Zone 2 and Philippines, with India, bronze medalists at the previous edition in 2022 in Tehran, Korea, Kuwait and Central Zone 1 in Pool D.

To fight for their Manama berths, some teams have to first compete in their zonal qualifications. They comprise Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Oman from Western Zone and Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan from Central Zone, with only two teams apiece from the aforementioned zones to be eligible for the 16-team Asian Men’s U18 Championship.

Though Bahrain is set to organize this championship for the first time in history, the nation had already hosted the Asian Men’s U20 Championship for three times in 2014, 2018 and 2022 which all ended on high note and brought Bahrain to fruition in terms of organization.