The AVC Men's Challenge Cup, also known as the AVC Challenge Cup for Men, is an annual international volleyball competition in Asia and Oceania contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), one of the sport's continent governing body.

AVC Men's Challenge Cup
Most recent season or competition:
2024 AVC Men's Challenge Cup
SportVolleyball
Founded2018; 6 years ago (2018)
First season2018
No. of teams12
ContinentAsia and Oceania (AVC)
Most recent
champion(s)
 Qatar
(1st title)
Most titles Iraq
 Kyrgyzstan
 Qatar
 Thailand
(1 title each)
Official websiteasianvolleyball.net

This event should not be confused with the other, more prestigious continental competition for Asian national volleyball teams, the Asian Volleyball Championship and the Asian Volleyball Cup.

The four Asian Volleyball Challenge Cup tournaments has been won by four different national teams. Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar and Thailand have won once each.

History

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Originally, the tournament was awarded every two years beginning 2018. This tournament was initially set up to serve as a qualifier to the Men's Asian Volleyball Cup, which served as the tournament for the top teams of the AVC. The champions were Iraq in the 2018 edition[1] and Kyrgyzstan in the 2022 edition.[2] Both teams defeated Saudi Arabia in a tie-break final.

Starting in the 2023 edition, the AVC Challenge Cup reformed from being held biennially to annually. The tournament was served as a qualifier for the FIVB Challenger Cup between 2023 and 2024.[3] Thailand were the champions in the 2023 edition after defeating Bahrain in the straight-sets final.[4] Qatar won the 2024 edition after a straight-sets victory over Pakistan in the final.[5]

Starting in 2025, with the new format of the Nations League and the abolishment of the Challenger Cup, this will serve as an annual competition for teams not participating in the VNL to earn world ranking points to increase their place in the FIVB Senior World Rankings, and possibly qualify to the future editions of the VNL.

Results summary

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Year Hosts Final 3rd place match Teams
Champions Score Runners-up 3rd place Score 4th place
2018
Details
 
Colombo
 
Iraq
3–2  
Saudi Arabia
 
Sri Lanka
3–0  
Bangladesh
8
2020  
Cholpon-Ata
Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Details
 
Cholpon-Ata
 
Kyrgyzstan
3–2  
Saudi Arabia
 
Uzbekistan
3–2  
Mongolia
4
2023
Details
 
Taipei
 
Thailand
3–0  
Bahrain
 
South Korea
3–1  
Vietnam
15
2024
Details
 
Isa Town
 
Qatar
3–0  
Pakistan
 
South Korea
3–1  
Kazakhstan
12

Teams reaching the top four

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Team Champions Runners-up 3rd place 4th place
  Iraq 1 (2018)
  Kyrgyzstan 1 (2022)
  Thailand 1 (2023)
  Qatar 1 (2024)
  Saudi Arabia 2 (2018, 2022)
  Bahrain 1 (2023)
  Pakistan 1 (2024)
  South Korea 2 (2023, 2024)
  Sri Lanka 1 (2018)
  Uzbekistan 1 (2022)
  Bangladesh 1 (2018)
  Kazakhstan 1 (2024)
  Mongolia 1 (2022)
  Vietnam 1 (2023)

Champions by region

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Federation (region) Champions Number
WAZVA (West Asia)   Iraq (1),   Qatar (1) 2 titles
CAZVA (Central Asia)   Kyrgyzstan (1) 1 title
SEAVA (Southeast Asia)   Thailand (1) 1 title

Hosts

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List of hosts by number of challenge cups hosted.

Number Nation(s) Year(s)
1   Sri Lanka 2018
  Kyrgyzstan 2022
  Taiwan 2023
  Bahrain 2024

Medal summary

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RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Iraq1001
  Kyrgyzstan1001
  Qatar1001
  Thailand1001
5  Saudi Arabia0202
6  Bahrain0101
  Pakistan0101
8  South Korea0022
9  Sri Lanka0011
  Uzbekistan0011
Totals (10 entries)44412

Participating nations

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Legend
  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Third place
  • 4th – Fourth place
  •  •  – Did not enter / Did not qualify
  •    – Hosts
  • Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament
Team  
2018
(8)
 
2022
(4)
 
2023
(15)
 
2024
(12)
Total
  Australia 5th 8th 2
  Bahrain 2nd 7th 2
  Bangladesh 4th 1
  China 5th 1
  Chinese Taipei 9th 12th 2
  Hong Kong 6th 11th 2
  India 15th 1
  Indonesia 6th 11th 2
  Iraq 1st 1
  Kazakhstan 7th 4th 2
  Kyrgyzstan 1st 1
  Macau 12th 1
  Malaysia 7th 1
  Mongolia 8th 4th 8th 3
  Pakistan 2nd 1
  Philippines 10th 10th 2
  Qatar 1st 1
  Saudi Arabia 2nd 2nd 14th 3
  South Korea 3rd 3rd 2
  Sri Lanka 3rd 13th 2
  Thailand 1st 9th 2
  United Arab Emirates 5th 1
  Uzbekistan 3rd 1
  Vietnam 4th 6th 2

Debut of teams

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Year Debutants Total
2018   Bangladesh 8
  Hong Kong
  Iraq
  Malaysia
  Mongolia
  Saudi Arabia
  Sri Lanka
  United Arab Emirates
2022   Kyrgyzstan 2
  Uzbekistan
2023   Australia 11
  Bahrain
  Chinese Taipei
  India
  Indonesia
  Kazakhstan
  Macau
  Philippines
  South Korea
  Thailand
  Vietnam
2024   China 3
  Pakistan
  Qatar

Awards

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Iraq Reign Supreme in 1st AVC Men's Challenge Cup". AVC. 22 September 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  2. ^ Preechachan (3 September 2022). "Kyrgyzstan Capture Maiden AVC Men's Challenge Cup Title on Home Soil after Comeback 3-2 Win against Saudi Arabia". AVC. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  3. ^ Edria Liang (16 June 2023). 中華女排出戰亞洲挑戰盃 賽程、名單一次看 [Chinese women's volleyball team Asian Challenge Cup schedule and list]. VOL Sports (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Archived from the original on 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. ^ Preechachan (16 July 2023). "Thailand capture AVC Challenge Cup and final berth in FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Qatar". AVC. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  5. ^ Preechachan (10 June 2024). "Qatar crowned 2024 AVC Challenge Cup champions, secure FIVB Challenger Cup berth". AVC. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
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