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Poland’s volleyball team faces challenges as captain Bartosz Kurek is sidelined by a hip injury, with Aleksander Śliwka stepping in as captain for the Olympic qualification tournament.
In a significant setback for Poland’s men’s volleyball team, Bartosz Kurek will not be competing in the Olympic qualification tournament in China due to a lingering hip injury. The 35-year-old’s season-ending injury has been confirmed by the Polish Volleyball Association’s spokesperson, Mariusz Szyszko.
With Kurek’s absence, it appears that Łukasz Kaczmarek is likely to step in once again for the team, potentially filling the void left by the 2018 world champion. Additionally, the team has named Aleksander Śliwka, a key player from ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle, as the captain during Kurek’s absence, a choice that aligns with his pivotal role in the squad under coach Nikola Grbić.
The Olympic qualification tournament, scheduled from September 30th to October 8th, will see Poland, the reigning European champions, face Belgium and subsequently compete against Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, the Netherlands, and China. The top two teams will secure berths for the Tokyo Olympics. All of Poland’s matches will be broadcast live on TVP Sport.
Twelve teams will participate in the volleyball tournament at the Paris Olympics, including France as the host nation, six teams from qualification tournaments (with two from each), and five teams based on FIVB rankings.
Poland’s journey to the Olympics faces uncertainty without Kurek, but the team remains determined to secure their spot on the grandest stage of sports.