The pools for the Men’s and Women’s sitting volleyball competitions at the Rio2016 Paralympic Games are now confirmed, and there will certainly be some exciting play in the pool matches!
Both the men’s and women’s competitions feature the top two world-ranked teams in Pool B. The men’s Pool B features I. R. Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have met each other in many previous Paralympic and World ParaVolley competition finals – as have China and the USA, who will find themselves locking horns in the women’s Pool B.
However, it is not just these four teams that spectators should keep their eyes on. Each of the other teams in the pools are strong, and the competition in Rio will be an excellent one – of that there is no question!
The pools are rounded out here:
| Men – Pool A | World Ranking | Qualification Path |
| 1 Brazil | 2 | Host |
| 2 Egypt | 4 | 2015 ParaVolley Africa Champions |
| 3 Germany | 5 | 2015 ParaVolley Europe Silver Medalist (behind BIH who had already qualified via 2014 World Championships) |
| 4 USA | 9 | 2015 Parapan Am Games Silver Medalist (behind BRA who is host for Rio2016) |
| Men – Pool B | World Ranking | Qualification Path |
| 1 IR Iran | 1 | 2014 World Championships Bronze Medalist (behind BIH-Gold, and BRA-Silver who is host for Rio2016) |
| 2 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 3 | 2014 World Championships Gold Medalist |
| 3 Russia | 6 | 2016 Intercontinental Non-Qualified Teams Champion |
| 4 China | 7 | 2015 ParaVolley Asia-Oceania Silver Medalist (behind IRI who qualified via 2014 World Championship) |
| Women – Pool A | World Ranking | Qualification Path |
| 1 Brazil | 4 | Host |
| 2 Ukraine | 3 | 2015 ParaVolley Europe Champions |
| 3 Russia | 8 | 2016 Intercontinental Non-Qualified Teams Champion |
| 4 Canada | 14 | 2015 Parapan Am Games Bronze Medalist (behind BRA who is host for Rio2016 and USA who qualified via the 2014 World Championships) |
| Women – Pool B | World Ranking | Qualification Path |
| 1 China | 1 | 2014 World Championships Gold Medalist |
| 2 USA | 2 | 2014 World Championships Silver Medalist |
| 3 IR Iran | 9 | 2015 ParaVolley Asia-Oceania Silver Medalist (behind CHN who qualified via 2014 World Championship) |
| 4 Rwanda | 13 | 2015 ParaVolley Africa Champions |
The Rio2016 Paralympic Games sitting volleyball competition will beheld at the Riocentro Pavilion 6 from September 9th through 18th. The venue is conveniently located in the Barra Cluster, near the Athletes’ Village and many other Games venues.
CLICK HERE for more information about Sitting Volleyball at the Rio2016 Games!