Doha, Qatar: Qatar opened their 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship campaign with a determined performance but ultimately fell short against a strong Netherlands side, losing 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23) in their Pool B opener in Quezon City, Philippines yesterday.
Despite the loss, Qatar pushed the European team to the limit, showing grit and composure especially in the third set, where they fought back to win 28-26 and extend the match.
The Qatari squad matched the Netherlands in kill blocks (9 each) and committed fewer unforced errors (26 compared to 29), highlighting their discipline and defensive effort. Youssef Oughlaf led the scoring for Qatar with 17 points, while seasoned outside hitters Ribeiro Renan and Nikola Vasic chipped in with 11 points apiece.
The Netherlands, however, made the difference from the service line, firing nine aces to Qatar’s two. They also edged Qatar in attack with 57 spike kills to 52.
Dutch opposite Michiel Ahyi topped all scorers with 20 points, while Tom Koops sealed the victory with the match-winning point in the fourth set. Qatar now turn their focus to their next match against world powerhouse Poland tomorrow, followed by their final Pool B game against Romania on September 17.
