Netherlands 2018: Favourites reach last eight

Men’s quarter final line-up confirmed at sitting volleyball Worlds 19 Jul 2018
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a group of Bosnian male sitting volleyball players working to get the ball back over the net

Defending champions Bosnia and Herzegovina are through to the quarter finals of Netherlands 2018

ⒸWorld ParaVolley
By World ParaVolley

The four strongest teams in men’s sitting volleyball lived up to expectations as they all sealed a third successive win to finish top of their respective groups at the World Championships in the Netherlands.

In Pool D, defending champions Bosnia and Herzegovina hammered Poland 3-0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-20) to end the group-stage unbeaten without conceding a single set. Rio 2016 bronze medallists Egypt beat Iraq 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-18, 26-24) and followed them into the quarter finals.

Reigning Paralympic champions Iran did not disappoint and claimed a 3-1 (25-15, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20) victory over Russia* in Pool B. Despite losing, the European title-holders also advanced into the next round in second place.

Germany defeated Japan 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-11) to leave the Netherlands with one triumph.

Another big team who secured their place in the quarter finals is Brazil. The Americas champions showed no mercy to Kazakhstan, winning 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-23) to end as leaders of Pool C. Ukraine achieved a 3-1 (25-20, 25-14, 21-25, 25-14) win over Croatia to seal second.

In Pool A, China beat Rwanda 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-13) and USA prevailed 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23) against hosts Netherlands, with both victors qualifying for the play-offs in first and second place respectively.

Competition continues on Thursday (19 July), with the men’s quarter finals taking place in Eindhoven and the women’s play-offs getting underway in Rotterdam.

More on the 2018 Sitting Volleyball World Championships can be found on World ParaVolley’s website.

*Editor's note: The International Paralympic Committee suspended the Russian Paralympic Committee on 7 August 2016 for its inability to fulfil its IPC membership responsibilities and obligations, in particular its obligation to comply with the IPC Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code (to which it is also a signatory). As a result of the suspension, Russian athletes cannot enter IPC sanctioned events or competitions, including the Paralympic Games.