The Hindu : China dropped from World men's league

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 08, 2003

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

China dropped from World men's league

Chennai May 7. The SARS scare, which has isolated China, claimed another victim. On Tuesday, China suffered a big blow when it was forced to pull out of the $15 million World men's volleyball league, the sport's richest tournament, during the International Volleyball Federation `s (FIVB) Board of Administration meeting held at Lausanne.

The World League's 16 elite teams play home-and-away matches during the first inter-continental round which lasts six weeks. And China has been advised to withdraw from the 14th edition of the League. Bulgaria took China's place in Group C, along with Serbia-Montenegro, Netherlands and Cuba.

Argentina, which hosted the last World men's championship, was also dropped and replaced by Czech Republic which will be pitted against France, Greece and Japan in Group D. Argentina's participation was cancelled because its national federation has been suspended owing to the inability to elect office-bearers in accordance with the FIVB constitution.

The top eight teams from the first round will take part in the finals at Madrid. Russia is the defending champion.

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