Qatar players block a spike from the South Korean team during yesterday's match.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar secured the bronze medal at the 2025 AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup, claiming a commanding 3-0 victory over South Korea in the third-place play-off held yesterday at Isa Bin Rashid Hall in Manama, Bahrain.
Bouncing back from a surprising semi-final defeat to Pakistan, Camilo Soto-coached Qatar produced an impressive all-round performance to finish on the podium.
Qatar began strongly, taking the first set 25-21, followed by a confident 25-20 win in the second. They held off a spirited fight from South Korea in the third, sealing the match with a narrow 25-23 victory.
The team tallied 35 points from attacks, added 12 through blocks, and capitalised on 26 points from South Korean errors.
Belal Abunabot stood out for Qatar, scoring 12 points, while the in-form Wadidi Raimi led the charge with 13 points.
Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali Ghanem Al Kuwari poses for a photo with Qatar team players and officials.
Ranked 23rd in the world, Qatar entered the tournament as top seeds and defending champions, with valuable world ranking points at stake. They overcame Australia in the group stage and defeated Vietnam in the quarter-finals before falling to Pakistan in the semi-final.
Bahrain crowned champions
Meanwhile, hosts Bahrain were crowned 2025 Nations Cup champions after a spirited 3-1 comeback victory over Pakistan in the final.
Pakistan, competing in their second consecutive final of the tournament, took the opening set 25-23.
But Bahrain, fueled by passionate home support, bounced back with a dominant 25-16 win in the second set. They then edged ahead with a 25-17 third set and sealed the title by clinching the fourth 25-18.
With the title, Bahrain also earned direct qualification to the 2026 Asian Championship.
The tournament featured 11 teams divided into four groups. Kazakhstan, initially in Qatar’s group, withdrew ahead of the start.
