2017 Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship opens in Ninh binh

The 13 participating teams are competing in four groups.Hosts Vietnam, Iraq's Al-Bahri and Sri Lanka are in Group A, while Group B comprises defending champions Sarmayeh Bank of Iran and Taiwan Power from Chinese Taipei.

Group C consists of Qatar's Al Arabi Sports Club, Kazakhstan's Altay VC, Hong Kong's Yan Chai and Canberra Heat of Australia.

Japan's Toyoda Gosei Trefuerza, China Beijing Baic Motor from China, Maldivian Sport & Recreation Club from Maldives and Thailand's Air Force VC form Group D.

Matches take places in both provinces of Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh from June 28 to July6.

Since the AVC got the tournament off the ground in Hefei, Anhui province,China in 1999, Iran have emerged as the most successful nation with their club teams capturing 11 titles altogether, followed by the Republic of Korea with two titles. Qatar, Kazakhstan, China and Chinese Taipei took one title apiece.

This year's winning team will be participating in the next year's FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship.

The opening ceremony was followed by the match between the hosts Vietnam and Iraq's Al-Bahri, which saw Vietnam team successfully defeating Albahri (Iraq) 3-0.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy