MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Volleyball Federation, upon the recommendation of the Asian Volleyball Confederation, decided to move the 21st Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship to May 2022 due to the spike of COVID-19 cases in the country.
The Asian Championship was originally scheduled from August 29 to September 5 in Pampanga but was put on hold due to the pandemic with October penciled in as a potential start.
An October start, however, would be in conflict with the International Volleyball Federation world calendar, thus pushing the Asian Championship, which is a qualifying event for the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, to May next year.
AVC President Rita Subowo wrote to PNVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara that the continental tournament could be held from May 15 to 22.
After a virtual meeting on Tuesday, the AVC Board of Administration requested the FIVB to organize the Asian Championship in May “in order for the women’s teams to obtain FIVB World Ranking points from the 2021 continental tournament like other confederations.”
“It will be good for the organizer to have the leading teams of Asia to participate in this championship,” said Subowo.
The FIVB proposed to use continental rankings in selecting the two qualified teams for the World Championship with China and Japan earning those slots as the the top two Asian teams.
Remaining qualified teams will be selected based on their world rankings.