Sunday, 13 Oct 2024

Final Paralympic Qualifier Schedule Set for U.S. Men

The U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball National Team is gearing up to host the seven-team Tokyo 2020 Men’s Final Paralympic Qualification Tournament at their training headquarters in Edmond, Oklahoma. This highly anticipated event will take place from March 16th to March 21st, 2020.

Participating Teams

The tournament will feature teams from the USA, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Ukraine. The U.S. Men’s team is ranked seventh in the world by World ParaVolley, making them the second-highest ranked team in the field, right after Ukraine, who is ranked fifth. Germany is ranked eighth, Kazakhstan is 10th, Canada is 16th, Croatia is 17th, and Latvia is 23rd.

Pool Assignments

The USA will head Pool A, along with Kazakhstan and Canada. Pool A matches are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT on March 16th to March 18th. Pool B consists of Ukraine, Germany, Croatia, and Latvia, with matches scheduled for 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. on the same dates. After a day off, the semifinal matches will be played on March 20th, with the gold-medal match set for March 21st.

Qualification and Expectations

The winner of the tournament will secure the final spot in the eight-team field for the 2020 Paralympic Games. The other teams that have already qualified are hosts Japan, Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Brazil, China, and Egypt. Russia’s spot is pending the lifting of its suspension against Russia’s national Paralympic committee.

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Coach’s Perspective

U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball National Team Head Coach Greg Walker acknowledges that the competition will be fierce, given the well-balanced field of teams. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork and connectivity as they strive to reach the next level.

As Walker states, “Our theme for this year is that we have to be ‘connected’ and give more of ourselves to commit to that action. We have been working incredibly hard on improving our volleyball systems and skills over the last few months, and I am excited to showcase the progress that these athletes have made.”

Training and Preparation

The U.S. Men’s team recently held a training camp in January, and they have additional camps scheduled in February and March to fine-tune their skills and strategies. Coach Walker highlights their focus on refining offensive opportunities to increase efficiency during match competition.

He explains, “The team has been constantly seeking ways to improve our ability to score points. It has been incredible to see the increased opportunities we have created. Now, we just need to improve efficiency in our attempts. We have reinforced key concepts in attacking during the January training block, and the results were remarkable. We saw a ton of offensive production.”

Tokyo 2020 Men’s Final Paralympic Qualification Tournament

Now, let’s take a closer look at the schedule for this highly anticipated tournament:

Pool Assignments:

  • Pool A: USA, Kazakhstan, Canada
  • Pool B: Ukraine, Germany, Croatia, Latvia

Schedule (all times CT/Local):

March 16th:

  • Ukraine (B1) vs Croatia (B3) – 1 p.m.
  • Germany (B2) vs Latvia (B4) – 2:45 p.m.
  • USA (A1) vs Canada (A3) – 4:30 p.m.
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March 17th:

  • Ukraine (B1) vs Germany (B2) – 1 p.m.
  • Croatia (B3) vs Latvia (B4) – 2:45 p.m.
  • Kazakhstan (A2) vs Canada (A3) – 4:30 p.m.

March 18th:

  • Ukraine (B1) vs Latvia (B4) – 1 p.m.
  • Germany (B2) vs Croatia (B3) – 2:45 p.m.
  • USA (A1) vs Kazakhstan (A2) – 4:30 p.m.

March 20th:

  • 3rd Place A vs. 4th Place B (5th-7th Classification) – 1 p.m.
  • 1st Place B vs. 2nd Place A (Semifinal) – 2:45 p.m.
  • 1st Place A vs. 2nd Place B (Semifinal) – 4:30 p.m.

March 21st:

  • 5th-6th Place – 10 a.m.
  • Semifinal Losers (Bronze Medal) – 1 p.m.
  • Semifinal Winners (Gold Medal) – 2:45 p.m.

FAQs

  1. Who is hosting the Tokyo 2020 Men’s Final Paralympic Qualification Tournament?
    The U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball National Team is hosting the tournament at their training headquarters in Edmond, Oklahoma.

  2. How many teams are participating in the tournament?
    Seven teams will be competing in the tournament: USA, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Ukraine.

  3. What is at stake in this tournament?
    The winner of the tournament will secure the final spot in the eight-team field for the 2020 Paralympic Games.

Conclusion

The stage is set for an exciting and highly competitive Tokyo 2020 Men’s Final Paralympic Qualification Tournament. The U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball National Team, along with six other talented teams, will battle it out for the remaining spot in the Paralympic Games. With their focus on teamwork, connectivity, and offensive efficiency, the U.S. Men’s team is ready to showcase their improvement and make their mark on the international stage. Stay tuned for a thrilling display of athleticism and determination!

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For more information about the U.S. Men’s Sitting Volleyball National Team and their upcoming events, visit Alpinetgheep.