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Djokovic ties Federer’s record for most weeks as Al Ahli crowned volleyball champions world No.1 Reuters | London Victors upset 2020 titlists Muharraq in four sets to claim two-game sweep of finals series in Isa bin ovak Djokovic equalled Rashid League NRoger Federer’s all- time record for most weeks Yvan Arthur Kody Bitjaa. as ATP world number one Volleyball It was a minor blip for Ahli in on Monday, holding the top the contest as they were able to • BETTER spot for the 310th week. Association president regroup in the third set and re- Djokovic’s ninth Austral- Shaikh Ali bin gain the match advantage. Then, ian Open title last month Mohammed Al Khalifa in the fourth, they moved to the KNOW guaranteed that he would presents Ahli, Muharraq brink of securing the title at 24- surpass Federer’s record on 22, but Muharraq were able to March 8. their respective score the next two points, which Having reached another trophies, medals in With last night’s re- included a Mohammed Anan milestone in his illustrious post-game ceremony sult, Ahli were able to error that tied it at 24-all. career, Djokovic had said exact revenge on Mu- But that set the stage for Ahli’s he would look to adjust his Ahli claim third title-clinchers, both of which calendar and make over- • harraq, who defeated were sent home by skipper Ali hauling Federer and Rafa title in history of the Ahli in two games to Al Sairifi at the net. Nadal’s joint-record of 20 league, adding to clinch the 2020 vol- Ahli also had key contribu- Grand Slam titles his top their championships leyball league title tions in their win from Brazilian priority. in the 2014/2015 and import Luis Fernando Vence- “Now, after achieving the 2017/2018 seasons slau, and their other top Bah- historic number one for the Ahli team members and club officials celebrate at the awarding sets were tightly contested as raini talents including Nasser longest weeks at number Ahli were looking to secure the Anan, Abbas Al Khabaaz, Ali one, it’s going to be a relief TDT | Following the match, which in the 2017/2018 season, while title, but Muharraq were battling Marhoon, Ali Sairifi, Ali Habib for me because I’m going was played at the Bahrain Vol- their first championship came for their lives, with the hopes of and libero Ayman Haroona. to focus all my attention on l Ahli were last night leyball Association (BVA) arena in 2014/2015. sending the finals series to a Muharraq were led by local Slams mostly,” the Serb had crowned champions of at Isa Sports City in Riffa, both Ahli were able to avenge their winner-take-all third game. stars Fadhel Abbas, Mahmood said after his title triumph Athe 2020/2021 Isa bin teams were presented their re- loss against Muharraq in last Ahli were the aggressors from Al Afia, Hussain Haikki, Ali at Melbourne Park. Rashid Bahrain First Division spective trophies and medals season’s championship round, the beginning as they took the Khairallah, Bader Mohammed “When you are going for Volleyball League. in a ceremony by BVA president which they lost in two games. first set in convincing fashion. and Mohammed Habib, as well number one ranking, you Ahli claimed the title after a Shaikh Ali bin Mohammed Al The victors were also able to They appeared to be on their as Bitjaa. kind of have to be playing thrilling 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-21, Khalifa. Other BVA and club of- upset their highly favoured ri- way to a two-set advantage late The 2020/2021 first division the entire season and you 26-24) victory over Muharraq, ficials were also on hand. vals, who were the top seeds in the second but Muharraq volleyball league was held in have to be playing well, you which earned them a two-game With the result, Ahli claimed at the end of the preliminary were able to rally and tie the honour of former Bahrain Olym- have to play all the tourna- sweep of their best-of-three fi- only their third title in the his- round. proceedings at 1-1 on a smash pic Committee president Shaikh ments. nals series. tory of the league. They last won In last night’s clash, all four from Cameroon professional Isa bin Rashid Al Khalifa.

Bahrain to host Group A matches in AFC Cup 2021 TDT | Manama

ahrain has been confirmed Bas host of Group A in the AFC Cup 2021 group stage. The Asian Football Confed- eration (AFC) announced yes- terday the centralised venues of the various groups in the competition. They were deter- mined “following an extensive bidding process and after close consultation with its Partici- The AFC Cup pating Member Associations,” Group C, which comprises Al the AFC said. Faisaly of , Al Seeb of Group A from the West Oman, Tishreen of Syria and Zone includes reigning Bah- the winner of a West Zone rain league champions Hidd, Play-off. Al Nasr of Oman, Al Wahda The AFC Cup 2021 group of Syria and defending cham- stage will see 39 clubs com- pions Al Ahed FC of . peting, an increase of three Bahrain have another team from 2019, over 10 groups. in the tournament, with Mu- This edition will also award harraq competing in Group B. the winning team a place in the Muharraq, who are the 2008 preliminary stage of the 2022 AFC Cup winners, are along- AFC Champions League. side Al Ansar FC of Lebanon, Action is scheduled to kick Al Salt of Jordan and Balata off with the preliminary round Centre of Palestine. on April 6, with the group Their matches will be staged stage matches to be played in in the Jordanian capital of the centralised venues begin- , along with those in ning May 14.

AFC Cup 2021 Group A: Al Ahed FC (LBN), Hidd (BRN), Al Wahda (SYR), Al Nasr (OMA) Group B: Al Salt (JOR), Balata Center (PLE), Al Ansar (LBN), Muharraq (BRN) Group C: Tishreen (SYR), Al Seeb (OMA), Al Faisaly JOR), PLE-KUW P/O Winner Group D: ATK Mohun Bagan (IND), (BAN), Maziya Sports & Recreation (MDV), IND-BAN-NEP-SRI-MDV-BHU P/O Winner Group E: FC Ravshan (TJK), FC Dordoi (KGZ), Ahal FC (TKM) Group F: AGMK/Nasaf (UZB), Altyn Aysr (TKM), FC Khujand (TJK), FC Alay (KGZ) Group G: Hanoi FC (VIE), Bali United (IDN), Boeung Ket (CAM), MYA-LAO-BRU P/O Winner Group H: Kedah Darul Aman (MAS), Lion City Sailors (SIN), Saigon FC (VIE), IDN-CAM- TLS P/O Winner Group I: Kaya FC-Iloilo (PHI), Shan United/Ayeyawady United (MYA), Terengganu FC (MAS), Geylang International (SIN) Group J: Eastern Long Lions (HKG), Tainan City (TPE), Athletic 220 (MNG), Lee Man (HKG)

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