24 teams participating in the 2011 National Volleyball Championship

The 24 strongest men's and women's volleyball teams in the country will participate in the PV OIL-2011 National Volleyball Championship, taking place from early April.

This is official information from the Vietnam Volleyball Federation at a press conference on the morning of March 27 in Hanoi.

Also at the above press conference, General Secretary of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation, Mr. Tran Duc Phan said that all preparations for the season have been completed.

Illustration: Internet

The PV OIL-2011 National Volleyball Championship will be organized in two rounds. Round 1 will take place from April 1-8 at Thai Nguyen City Gymnasium (Thai Nguyen Province) (Group A) and Gia Lam Gymnasium, Hanoi (Group B). The Hung Vuong Cup round in Phu Tho Province will take place from April 11-14, including the first and second place teams of each group after the results of round 1. Round 2 will be held in Khanh Hoa and Ba Ria-Vung Tau from December 10-25, 2011.

In the group stage, 12 men's teams and 12 women's teams are divided into two groups A and B, competing in a round robin (round 1 and round 2), calculating the total score of the two rounds for ranking.

Round 2 and final ranking, based on the results of both rounds, the 1st and 2nd ranked teams of both groups A and B for men and women compete in the final round; the two losing teams will compete for third place, the two winning teams will compete for first place.

In the ranking round, the 3rd and 4th ranked teams of Groups A and B (men and women) will be ranked from 5 to 8 based on the results of both rounds. The 5th and 6th ranked teams of Groups A and B (men and women) will compete in a round robin to be ranked from 9 to 12. The 11th and 12th ranked teams (men and women) will be relegated to the 2012 A-class tournament.

Sponsor PV OIL's prize money for each male and female team includes first prize: 100 million VND, second prize: 70 million VND, third prize: 30 million VND; Hung Vuong Cup, prize money for each male and female team includes first prize: 50 million VND, second prize: 30 million VND, third prize: 20 million VND.

2011 is the third consecutive year that Vietnam Oil Corporation (PV OIL) is the main sponsor of the PV OIL National Volleyball Championship - the highest tournament in the national competition system, which gathers elite athletes to select for the national team.

Digital Television (VTC), Vietnam Television (VTV), and Vietnam Cable Television will broadcast live and record the matches on sports channels. The tournament will also be posted on many media, television, print, and radio at the central and local levels.

According to VNA