Lebanon is set to compete in the semi-finals of the qualifiers for the upcoming beach volleyball Olympics for the first time later this month.
Lebanon had qualified for the semi-finals after winning second place in the West Asia tournament that it hosted in 2019.
The semi-final qualifiers will take place on June 18-19 in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
The Lebanese delegation will depart to Thailand on Sunday, June 11th, in preparation for the games, in which Australia, Japan, Kazakhstan, and The Philippines will be competing.
The delegation includes national coach Elie Nar in addition to players Jean Abi-Chedid, Joe El-Azzi, Paul Abou Akl, Chafic Saliba, and Charbel Khoueiry.
The first Lebanese team is comprised of Abi-Chedid and El-Azzi, while Abou Akl, Saliba, and Khoueiry (reserve player) constitute the second team.
“It is the first time that we have qualified for the semi-finals, and I wish, on behalf of the game’s family, success for the delegation in its important competition,” said Walid Al-Qasouf, President of the Lebanese Volleyball Federation.
Al-Qasouf said that he has been in daily contact with coach Elie Nar and National Teams Manager Elie Moussa, to keep up with the Lebanese volleyball team’s training.
The team has been training 6 days a week for the past 3 months to prepare for the semi-finals.
The Summer Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo, Japan from July 23rd to August 8th, 2021.
Photo: Chafic Saliba and Joe El-Azzi pose for a photograph after winning 2-0 against a Tunisian duo in February 2021.
