Ukraine in tight race with USA and China in men’s qualifier

The competition intensifies at the 2024 WPV Sitting Volleyball Final Qualifier for Men, presented by Delin Company, as Ukraine, USA and China emerged at the forefront of the competition on Day 6 at the Dali International Olympic Sports Centre on Monday.

Ukraine, holding a narrow edge, stand alongside powerhouse contenders China and the United States, as they vie for the top two spots for the men’s qualification final.

The day started with a riveting clash between Poland and Iraq, where the latter emerged victorious after a hard-fought match with a scoreline of 3-1 (25-16, 25-18, 25-27, 25-19). Iraq’s strong offence proved too much to handle for Poland, although the Europeans showcased moments of brilliance, particularly in the third set where they took the win. Iraq’s consistency ultimately secured them the win.

Following the intense opener, Ukraine squared off against Canada in a nail-biting encounter that went down to the wire, with the European side emerging triumphant 3-2 (25-15, 25-17, 24-26, 26-28, 15-6). After Ukraine dominated the first two sets, Canada staged a remarkable comeback, forcing a tiebreaker. However, Ukraine’s resilience saw them clinch victory in the deciding set, maintaining their impressive record and earning them two points to solidify their hold on the top of the standings.

Meanwhile, China demonstrated their strength against Croatia in a commanding performance that saw them secure a straight-set (30-28, 25-15, 25-15) victory. With their attackers proving too formidable for Croatia’s defence, China’s victory propelled them to a tie for second place alongside the United States, further intensifying the competition.

In the final match of the day, the United States delivered a resounding win against Japan, asserting their dominance and keeping pace with Ukraine and China at the top of the leaderboard with a scoreline of 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-14). With all three teams boasting five wins each in six matches, the race for the top spot remains incredibly tight, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament.