Can Asia win world volleyball?
The 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship will be the 19th staging of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship organized by the sport’s global governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). The final tournament will be co-hosted by Italy and Bulgaria from 10 to 30 September 2018. For the first time the tournament will be held in two countries. The semifinals and finals will take place in Turin, Italy.Twenty-four national teams are expected to compete.
Australia, China, Iran and Japan will represent Asia and Oceania with little hope to win the world title. Poland are defending champions, but Brazil are favourites to regain the title.
Volleyball was once a popular game in Bangladesh. The winter stalking, boys began to play volleyball in both the urban and the rural areas. The Dhaka Senior Division Volleyball League was a regular feature watched by a good crowd. The volleyball federation should take initiative to organise at least one international tournament with national teams from iran and Japan, India and Bangladesh. If there is proper effort, lost popularity can be regained. The TV channels should telecast live four quarterfinals, two semifinals and the final matches at least.
Peter Rozario
Pabna.
