The national men’s volleyball teams of Türkiye and Qatar are on the brink of making history. They are set to compete for a place in the esteemed Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in 2024, marking a first-time appearance for either team. This pivotal match-up follows their triumphant performances in the semifinals of the FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup 2023 held in Doha.
In an electrifying first semifinal, Türkiye edged out Ukraine in a thrilling five-set contest, emerging victorious with a 3-2 (18-25, 25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 15-13) scoreline to secure their berth in the gold medal match. Adis Lagumdzija spearheaded the Turkish team’s offense against Ukraine, contributing 19 points, while Burutay Subasi and Efe Bayram added a crucial 14 and 10 points respectively. Despite a spirited effort by Ukrainian captain Oleh Plotnytskyi, who topped the scoresheet with 22 points, the Ukrainian side fell short.
Meanwhile, Qatar clinched a clean sweep against Chile in the second semifinal, earning a commanding 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 27-25) victory. Youssef Oughlaf led the Qatari team with an impressive 16 points, backed by Raimi Wadidie’s 12-point contribution. Dusan Bonacic of Chile managed to notch the highest individual score of the match with 18 points, yet it was not enough to secure a win for his team.
As the final looms, it’s worth noting that this will be the second clash between Türkiye and Qatar’s national teams. Their initial encounter occurred in the quarterfinals of the previous tournament in 2022, where Türkiye defeated Qatar with a 3-1 scoreline. All eyes are now on this pair as they prepare to duel once more for a place among the volleyball elite in the VNL 2024.
