Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior men’s volleyball team kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games alive after securing gold at the CAVB Zone VI Olympic Qualifiers in Harare on Saturday.
The hosts produced a spirited performance to edge Zambia 3-2 in a thrilling final at Sunrise Sports Club, completing a remarkable turnaround after suffering a defeat to the same opponents earlier in the tournament.
Zimbabwe had opened their campaign with a 3-1 loss to Zambia but responded impressively, defeating Malawi 3-1 before brushing aside Namibia 3-0 to book their place in the final.
With the stakes at their highest, the Zimbabwean men rose to the occasion in front of their home supporters, over-coming Zambia 20-25, 25-20, 19-25, 29-27 and 16-14 in a tightly contested five-set encounter to claim the regional title and advance to the next stage of the Olympic qualification process.
The victory means Zimbabwe will now represent Zone VI at the African Olympic Qualifiers scheduled to take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo from August 23 to September 27.
The continental tournament will offer a direct pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with the eventual champions securing a place at the global show-piece. While the men’s team celebrated a historic triumph, Zimbabwe were denied a clean sweep of the titles after the women’s side fell short in their quest for gold.
The Zimbabwe women’s team had enjoyed an impressive run through the round-robin phase, recording straight-set victories over Namibia and Malawi before defeating Zambia 3-2 to finish top of the standings unbeaten. However, Zambia gained revenge when it mattered most, defeating Zimbabwe 3-0 in the final to claim the women’s title and secure qualification for the African Olympic Qualifiers in Kenya, which will run from August 23 to September 5. Despite the disappointment in the women’s final, the men’s gold medal ensured Zimbabwe ended the tournament on a high note and moved one step closer to realising their dream of competing at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. — Agencies
