Ukraine and the United Statesâ straight-set victories on Tuesday put them in first and second place in the standings, respectively, by the end of the preliminary round of the 2024 WPV Sitting Volleyball Final Qualifiers for Men, presented by Delin Company, at the Dali International Olympics Sports Centre.
With Ukraine, USA and China carrying identical win-loss records of 5-1 after Mondayâs fixtures, USA gained edge on Tuesday with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-14) victory over Croatia. The North American squad improved their record to 6-1 and finished the preliminary round with 17 points.
Despite Chinaâs 3-2 (25-27, 26-24, 25-20, 21-25, 22-20) win over Canada, the final match result did not help the home teamâs cause, gaining two points and finishing with only 16 points from the five-set finish, while giving away one point to opponents Canada.
Meanwhile, Ukraine delivered a masterclass performance against Iraq, dispatching their opponents with ease in straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-16), securing their spot in the final as they topped the preliminary round standings with a 6-1 record and 18 points.
Japan showcased their determination, clinching a hard-fought win over Poland in a thrilling encounter. Despite facing resistance form the European side, the Japanese squad emerged triumphant with a 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-18, 25-23) win, marking a positive end to their campaign in the tournament.
On Wednesday, Ukraine and USA will face off at 11:00 local time to determine which menâs team will claim the final ticket to the Paris Paralympic Games.
