Doha: Al Sadd and Al Shamal registered contrasting wins on the opening day of the Emir Cup Volleyball to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Yesterday at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena, Al Sadd coasted to an easy straight sets win over Al Wakrah 3-0 (25/13, 25/14 and 25/16) while Al Shamal defeated Al Ahli.
In the first match, Al Sadd had it easy winning the first three sets to set up a quarter-final clash with recently crowned Qatar Cup winners Al Rayyan.
The Al Sadd-Al Rayyan clash will take place on May 3
In the second match, Al Shamal got off to a good start winning the first two sets, but Al Ahli bounced back to take the third one.
Al Shamal made sure they did not take the match in to the fifth one by winning the fourth one and with a place in the last eight stage of the championship.
In the end, Al Shamal won 3-1 (25/18, 25/21, 21/25 and 25/23)
Al Shamal will meet El Jaish in the quarter-finals.
Eleven teams are taking part in the championship. Qatar Volleyball Association League winners Al Arabi, league runners-up Al Rayyan along with El Jaish, Police, Al Gharafa, Al Ahli, Al Shamal, Al Khor, Qatar SC, Al Wakrah and Al Sadd complete the team line-up.
Today, Qatar SC take on Al Khor in the only match of the day.
On May 3, there are two matches.
In the first match at 4.30 pm, El Jaish square to Al Shamal and at 6.30 pm, Al Rayyan and Al Sadd face each other.
The initial rounds of the championship will played on a knockout basis while the semi-finals will be a best-of-three affair.
The best-of-the-three semifinals will be played on May 7, 9 and 11.
Two matches will be played every day, the first one at 4.30pm and the second one at 6.30pm.
The final will be played on May 13 at 6.30pm.
The Peninsula
