Semifinals Setup and Significance
- Thailand vs Vietnam
- Bahrain vs Korea
The teams have made it to the semifinals of the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Men in Taipei, marking a key milestone in the tournament. The winners of this tournament will earn the right to participate in the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Doha, Qatar. Securing victory in the Challenger Cup will unlock the potential for promotion and involvement in the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Semifinal Matchups: Team Profiles and Previous Matches
Thailand and Vietnam Match
In the pivotal Ranking 1-6 match, Thailand, standing at 64th position globally and former four-time consecutive winners of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, edged out Indonesia in a nail-biting 124-minute showdown. Final scores of the match were as follows:
- Thailand: 25-20, 25-27, 20-25, 25-16, 15-12
Top contributors for Thailand were:
- Anurak Phanram: 16 points
- Napadet Bhinijdee: 16 points
- Anut Promchan: 15 points
Rivan Nurmulki of Indonesia, despite his team’s loss, had an impressive 23 points, with 22 successful attacks. Thailand will reignite their rivalry with Vietnam in the semifinals.
Bahrain and Korea Match
Ranked 79th globally, Bahrain upset the odds by defeating 37th ranked Australia 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 18-25, 25-18). Key players for Bahrain included:
- Mohamed Abdulla Yaqoob: 17 points (12 successful attacks and 3 aces)
- Anan: 16 points
- Ebrahim: 10 points
Australia’s top scorer, Sam Flowerday, scored 11 points. The loss ended Australia’s chance to qualify for the 2024 VNL. Bahrain is now set to face Korea, the favorites who won the bronze medal at last year’s FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Seoul.
Ranking Round for Places 7-12
Philippines vs Macao, China
In the Ranking Round for places 7-12, the Philippines defeated Macao, China convincingly with a score of 25-15, 25-16, 25-17. Notable players included:
- Ryan Andrew Ka (Philippines): 11 points
- Ling Ngai Tong (Macao, China): 7 points
Kazakhstan vs Hong Kong, China
In another Ranking 7-12 round match, Kazakhstan outperformed Hong Kong, China, winning straight sets of 25-18, 25-16, 25-15. Standout players were:
- Ilya Tavolzhanskiy (Kazakhstan): 21 points (19 successful attacks, one block, and one ace)
- Wan Ka Nam (Hong Kong, China): 9 points
Classification Round for Places 13-15
In the round-robin Classification Round for places 13-15, Sri Lanka defeated Saudi Arabia, the silver medalists at the previous Asian Men’s Challenge Cup. The straight-set victory stood at 25-15, 25-17, 25-14. Key players included:
- Jayalath Arachchige Mahela Indeewara Bandara (Sri Lanka): 16 points (13 successful attacks and 3 aces)
- Reda Alsharfa (Saudi Arabia): 16 points (15 successful attacks)
Upcoming Matches
| Date | Venue | Match Type | Team 1 | Team 2 |
| July 21, 2023 | University of Taipei Hall | Semifinals | Korea | Bahrain |
| July 21, 2023 | University of Taipei Hall | Semifinals | Thailand | Vietnam |
| July 21, 2023 | Taipei Gym | Ranking 7-12 | Philippines | Mongolia |
| July 21, 2023 | Taipei Gym | Ranking 7-12 | Hong Kong, China | Macao, China |
| July 21, 2023 | University of Taipei Hall | Ranking 7-12 | Chinese Taipei | Kazakhstan |
On Friday, the tournament’s penultimate day, the semifinals at the University of Taipei Hall will witness Korea taking on Bahrain and Thailand challenging Vietnam. In the Ranking 7-12 matches at Taipei Gym, the Philippines will play Mongolia, and Hong Kong, China will clash with Macao, China. The final Ranking 7-12 encounter at the University of Taipei Hall will feature Chinese Taipei against Kazakhstan.
