A day after the conclusion of the women’s tournament, the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship set off in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Iraq’s South Gas Club (also known as Gas Al-Janoob) staged a little surprise on the opening day of the 2021 Asian Men’s Club Championship, beating Kazakh Burevestnik Almaty in Pool A: 3-2 (25-16, 26-24, 23-25, 23-25, 15-13). The Egypt National Team member Ahmed Said ‘Shafik’, who signed for South Gas on a temporary deal, just to participate in this event, scored a match-high 31 points. In the same pool, the home side of Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC (the reigning Thai champions), led by Tanas Bumrungphakdi (21 points), survived the scare from Kuwait’s Kazma Sport Club, who had 2-1 in sets.
The other Thai representative in the Asian Club Championship, Diamond Food, was forced to come back to the match against Uzbekistan’s titleholders AGMK twice (0-1, 1-2) in Pool B, but eventually won. Kantapat Koonmee top scored the Samutsakhon club with 22 points. Also in Pool B, the winners of the historical title in Iran, Sirjan Foulad, toyed with Philippine Rebisco Philippines, conceding only five points in the third set: 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-5).
2021 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship – group stage, round 1:
