# 2023 AVC Men's Challenge Cup

The 2023 AVC Men's Challenge Cup, also known as the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup for Men, was the fourth edition of the AVC Men's Challenge Cup, an annual international volleyball tournament organised by the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC), in that year with the Chinese Taipei Volleyball Association (CTVBA). The tournament was held in Taipei, Taiwan from 8 to 15 July 2023.
The winners of the tournament qualified for the 2023 FIVB Men's Volleyball Challenger Cup.
Thailand won their first title and earned the right to participate in 2023 Challenger Cup after defeating Bahrain in straight sets in the final. South Korea took the bronze after defeating Vietnam in the 3rd place match. Anurak Phanram named as the MVP of the tournament.

## Qualified teams

The following teams qualified for the tournament.
| Country | Zone | Qualified as | Qualified on | Previous appearances | Previous appearances | Previous appearances | Previous best performance |
| Country | Zone | Qualified as | Qualified on | Total | First | Last | Previous best performance |
| Chinese Taipei | EAZVA | Host country | 20 December 2022 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Australia | OZVA | 1st OZVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Bahrain | WAZVA | 1st WAZVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Hong Kong | EAZVA | 2nd EAZVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| India | CAVA | 3rd CAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Indonesia | SEAVA | 2nd SEAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Kazakhstan | CAVA | 2nd CAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Macau | EAZVA | 3rd EAZVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Mongolia | EAZVA | 3rd EAZVA team | 2 February 2023 | 2 | 2018 | 2022 | 4th place (2022) |
| Pakistan | CAVA | 1st CAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Philippines | SEAVA | 4th SEAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Saudi Arabia | WAZVA | 2nd WAZVA team | 2 February 2023 | 2 | 2018 | 2022 | Runners-up (2018, 2022) |
| South Korea | EAZVA | 1st EAZVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Sri Lanka | CAVA | 4th CAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 1 | 2018 | 2018 | 3rd place (2018) |
| Thailand | SEAVA | 1st SEAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |
| Uzbekistan | CAVA | 5th CAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 1 | 2022 | 2022 | 3rd place (2022) |
| Vietnam | SEAVA | 3rd SEAVA team | 2 February 2023 | 0 | None | None | None |

## Pools composition

The overview of pools was released on 16 March 2023.
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D | Pool E | Pool F |
| Chinese Taipei (Hosts) | Saudi Arabia (2) | Uzbekistan (3)* | Mongolia (4) | Australia (–) | Bahrain (–) |
| Kazakhstan (–) | Thailand (–) | India (–) | Philippines (–) | Pakistan (–)* | Sri Lanka (–) |
| — | South Korea (–) | Hong Kong (–) | Macau (–) | Vietnam (–) | Indonesia (–) |
* Pakistan and Uzbekistan withdrew from the tournament.

## Venues

| Pool A, B, F, Final Round | Pool C, D, E, Final Round |
| Taipei, Taiwan ||
| University of Taipei Gymnasium (Court 1) | Taipei Gymnasium (Court 2) |
| Capacity: 4,500 | Capacity: 2,400 |

## Format

Teams are divided into six pools. Last placed teams in pools B, C, F play for 13th to 15th places. The second-ranked teams in each pool were drawn to pair with the first-ranked teams in each pool. Top six advances to next round while losers relegated to 7th–12th places.

## Pool standing procedure

* Total number of victories (matches won, matches lost)
* In the event of a tie, the following first tiebreaker will apply: The teams will be ranked by the most point gained per match as follows:
** Match won 3–0 or 3–1: 3 points for the winner, 0 points for the loser
** Match won 3–2: 2 points for the winner, 1 point for the loser
** Match forfeited: 3 points for the winner, 0 points (0–25, 0–25, 0–25) for the loser
* If teams are still tied after examining the number of victories and points gained, then the AVC will examine the results in order to break the tie in the following order:
** Set quotient: if two or more teams are tied on the number of points gained, they will be ranked by the quotient resulting from the division of the number of all set won by the number of all sets lost.
** Points quotient: if the tie persists based on the set quotient, the teams will be ranked by the quotient resulting from the division of all points scored by the total of points lost during all sets.
** If the tie persists based on the point quotient, the tie will be broken based on the team that won the match of the Round Robin Phase between the tied teams. When the tie in point quotient is between three or more teams, these teams ranked taking into consideration only the matches involving the teams in question.

## Preliminary round

* All times are Taiwan Time (UTC+08:00).

### Pool A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Chinese Taipei (H) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3.000 | 96 | 77 | 1.247 | Final twelve |
| 2 | Kazakhstan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 77 | 96 | 0.802 | Final twelve |
| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 8 Jul | 17:30 | Court 1 | Chinese Taipei | 3–1 | Kazakhstan | 25–17 | 21–25 | 25–12 | 25–23 | | 96–77 | Report |

### Pool B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 150 | 118 | 1.271 | Final twelve |
| 2 | Thailand | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 133 | 128 | 1.039 | Final twelve |
| 3 | Saudi Arabia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 113 | 150 | 0.753 | 13th–15th places |
| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total | Report |
| 8 Jul | 10:00 | Court 1 | South Korea | 3–0 | Thailand | 25–20 | 25–15 | 25–23 | 75–58 | Report |
| 9 Jul | 12:30 | Court 1 | Saudi Arabia | 0–3 | South Korea | 17–25 | 20–25 | 23–25 | 60–75 | Report |
| 10 Jul | 12:30 | Court 1 | Thailand | 3–0 | Saudi Arabia | 25–20 | 25–16 | 25–17 | 75–53 | Report |

### Pool C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Hong Kong | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | MAX | 75 | 0 | MAX | Final twelve |
| 2 | India | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.000 | 0 | 75 | 0.000 | 13th–15th places |
| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Jul | 15:00 | Court 2 | Hong Kong | 3–0 | India | 25–0 | 25–0 | 25–0 | | | 75–0 | |

### Pool D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Philippines | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3.000 | 186 | 157 | 1.185 | Final twelve |
| 2 | Mongolia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1.667 | 182 | 164 | 1.110 | Final twelve |
| 3 | Macau | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 103 | 150 | 0.687 | Final twelve |
| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 8 Jul | 10:00 | Court 2 | Macau | 0–3 | Mongolia | 14–25 | 20–25 | 19–25 | | | 53–75 | Report |
| 9 Jul | 10:00 | Court 2 | Philippines | 3–0 | Macau | 25–21 | 25–15 | 25–14 | | | 75–50 | Report |
| 10 Jul | 10:00 | Court 2 | Mongolia | 2–3 | Philippines | 25–22 | 21–25 | 24–26 | 25–23 | 12–15 | 107–111 | Report |

### Pool E

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3.000 | 108 | 94 | 1.149 | Final twelve |
| 2 | Vietnam | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 94 | 108 | 0.870 | Final twelve |
| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Jul | 12:30 | Court 2 | Vietnam | 1–3 | Australia | 23–25 | 16–25 | 35–33 | 20–25 | | 94–108 | Report |

### Pool F

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Indonesia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 214 | 199 | 1.075 | Final twelve |
| 2 | Bahrain | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 222 | 217 | 1.023 | Final twelve |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0.333 | 180 | 200 | 0.900 | 13th–15th places |
| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 8 Jul | 12:30 | Court 1 | Sri Lanka | 1–3 | Indonesia | 21–25 | 19–25 | 25–20 | 17–25 | | 82–95 | Report |
| 9 Jul | 15:00 | Court 1 | Bahrain | 3–1 | Sri Lanka | 28–26 | 25–20 | 26–28 | 26–24 | | 105–98 | Report |
| 10 Jul | 15:00 | Court 1 | Indonesia | 3–2 | Bahrain | 33–31 | 25–27 | 21–25 | 25–23 | 15–11 | 119–117 | Report |

## Final round

* All times are Taiwan Time (UTC+08:00).

### 13th–15th places

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 13 | Sri Lanka | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 150 | 46 | 3.261 |
| 14 | Saudi Arabia | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 121 | 75 | 1.613 |
| 15 | India | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 0 | 150 | 0.000 |
| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 13 Jul | 10:00 | Court 2 | Sri Lanka | 3–0 | Saudi Arabia | 25–15 | 25–17 | 25–14 | | | 75–46 | Report |

### Final twelve

| Round of 12 | Round of 12 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final |
| 12 July | 12 July | | | | | | |
| Chinese Taipei | 1 | | | | | | |
| Vietnam | 3 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 14 July | 14 July | | |
| | | | | | Vietnam | 1 | |
| 12 July | 12 July | | | | | Vietnam | 1 | |
| 12 July | 12 July | | | | Thailand | 3 | |
| Indonesia | 3 | | | | Thailand | 3 | |
| Indonesia | 3 | 13 July | 13 July | | | | | |
| Kazakhstan | 0 | 13 July | 13 July | | | | |
| Kazakhstan | 0 | Indonesia | 2 | | | | |
| 12 July | 12 July | | Indonesia | 2 | | | | |
| 12 July | 12 July | Thailand | 3 | | | | |
| Hong Kong | 1 | Thailand | 3 | | | | |
| Hong Kong | 1 | | | | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Thailand | 3 | | | | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Thailand | 3 | | | | | | | Thailand | 3 |
| 12 July | 12 July | | | | | | | | Thailand | 3 |
| 12 July | 12 July | | | | | | | Bahrain | 0 |
| South Korea | 3 | | | | | | | Bahrain | 0 |
| Mongolia | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | 14 July | 14 July | | | | |
| | | | | | South Korea | 0 | | | |
| 12 July | 12 July | | | | | South Korea | 0 | | | |
| 12 July | 12 July | | | | Bahrain | 3 | | 3rd place match | 3rd place match |
| Philippines | 0 | | | | Bahrain | 3 | | 3rd place match | 3rd place match |
| Philippines | 0 | 13 July | 13 July | | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Bahrain | 3 | 13 July | 13 July | | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Bahrain | 3 | Bahrain | 3 | | | | | Vietnam | 1 |
| 12 July | 12 July | | Bahrain | 3 | | | | | Vietnam | 1 |
| 12 July | 12 July | Australia | 1 | | | | | South Korea | 3 |
| Australia | 3 | Australia | 1 | | | | | South Korea | 3 |
| Macau | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| 5th place match | 5th place match |
| 15 July | 15 July |
| Indonesia | 1 |
| Australia | 3 |
| 7th–12th places | 7th–12th places | 7th–10th places | 7th–10th places | | 7th place match | 7th place match |
| | | 14 July | 14 July | | |
| | | Chinese Taipei | 0 | |
| 13 July | 13 July | | Chinese Taipei | 0 | |
| 13 July | 13 July | Kazakhstan | 3 | |
| Kazakhstan | 3 | Kazakhstan | 3 | |
| Kazakhstan | 3 | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Hong Kong | 0 | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Hong Kong | 0 | | | | Kazakhstan | 3 |
| | | | | | Mongolia | 0 |
| | | 14 July | 14 July | | | |
| | | Mongolia | 3 | | | |
| 13 July | 13 July | | Mongolia | 3 | | |
| 13 July | 13 July | Philippines | 2 | | 9th place match | 9th place match |
| Philippines | 3 | Philippines | 2 | | 9th place match | 9th place match |
| Philippines | 3 | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Macau | 0 | | | | 15 July | 15 July |
| Macau | 0 | | | | Chinese Taipei | 3 |
| | | | | | Philippines | 1 |
| 11th place match | 11th place match |
| 14 July | 14 July |
| Hong Kong | 3 |
| Macau | 0 |

#### Round of 12

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 12 Jul | 10:00 | Court 1 | Philippines | 0–3 | Bahrain | 20–25 | 17–25 | 23–25 | | 60–75 | Report |
| 12 Jul | 12:30 | Court 1 | South Korea | 3–0 | Mongolia | 25–16 | 25–21 | 25–20 | | 75–57 | Report |
| 12 Jul | 15:00 | Court 1 | Indonesia | 3–0 | Kazakhstan | 30–28 | 25–21 | 25–15 | | 80–64 | Report |
| 12 Jul | 15:00 | Court 2 | Australia | 3–0 | Macau | 25–10 | 25–13 | 25–8 | | 75–31 | Report |
| 12 Jul | 17:30 | Court 1 | Chinese Taipei | 1–3 | Vietnam | 20–25 | 25–23 | 19–25 | 15–25 | 79–98 | Report |
| 12 Jul | 17:30 | Court 2 | Hong Kong | 1–3 | Thailand | 25–15 | 8–25 | 22–25 | 11–25 | 66–90 | Report |

#### 7th–12th places

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 13 Jul | 12:30 | Court 2 | Kazakhstan | 3–0 | Hong Kong | 25–18 | 25–16 | 25–15 | | | 75–49 | Report |
| 13 Jul | 15:00 | Court 2 | Philippines | 3–0 | Macau | 25–15 | 25–16 | 25–17 | | | 75–48 | Report |

#### Quarterfinals

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 13 Jul | 12:30 | Court 1 | Indonesia | 2–3 | Thailand | 20–25 | 27–25 | 25–20 | 16–25 | 12–15 | 100–110 | Report |
| 13 Jul | 15:00 | Court 1 | Bahrain | 3–1 | Australia | 25–19 | 25–22 | 18–25 | 25–18 | | 93–84 | Report |

#### 7th–10th places

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 14 Jul | 17:30 | Court 1 | Chinese Taipei | 0–3 | Kazakhstan | 22–25 | 23–25 | 23–25 | | | 68–75 | Report |
| 14 Jul | 17:30 | Court 2 | Mongolia | 3–2 | Philippines | 17–25 | 23–25 | 25–23 | 25–22 | 15–12 | 105–107 | Report |

#### Semifinals

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 14 Jul | 12:30 | Court 1 | Vietnam | 1–3 | Thailand | 25–20 | 13–25 | 22–25 | 15–25 | | 75–95 | Report |
| 14 Jul | 15:00 | Court 1 | South Korea | 0–3 | Bahrain | 33–35 | 23–25 | 20–25 | | | 76–85 | Report |

#### 11th place match

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 14 Jul | 15:00 | Court 2 | Hong Kong | 3–0 | Macau | 25–16 | 25–18 | 25–20 | | | 75–54 | Report |

#### 9th place match

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 15 Jul | 12:30 | Court 2 | Chinese Taipei | 3–1 | Philippines | 25–22 | 25–17 | 26–28 | 25–22 | | 101–89 | Report |

#### 7th place match

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 15 Jul | 15:00 | Court 2 | Kazakhstan | 3–0 | Mongolia | 25–16 | 25–16 | 25–20 | | | 75–52 | Report |

#### 5th place match

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 15 Jul | 10:00 | Court 1 | Indonesia | 1–3 | Australia | 20–25 | 18–25 | 25–19 | 16–25 | | 79–94 | Report |

#### 3rd place match

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 15 Jul | 12:30 | Court 1 | Vietnam | 1–3 | South Korea | 22–25 | 19–25 | 25–22 | 21–25 | | 87–97 | Report |

#### Final

| Date | Time | Venue | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 15 Jul | 15:00 | Court 1 | Thailand | 3–0 | Bahrain | 25–20 | 25–20 | 25–16 | | | 75–56 | Report |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Thailand |
| | Bahrain |
| | South Korea |
| 4 | Vietnam |
| 5 | Australia |
| 6 | Indonesia |
| 7 | Kazakhstan |
| 8 | Mongolia |
| 9 | Chinese Taipei |
| 10 | Philippines |
| 11 | Hong Kong |
| 12 | Macau |
| 13 | Sri Lanka |
| 14 | Saudi Arabia |
| 15 | India |
* Qualified for the 2023 FIVB Challenger Cup
* 2023 Asian Challenge Cup champions
* Thailand First title
* 14–man roster
* Anut Promchan, Takorn Chuaymee, Prasert Pinkaew, Napadet Bhinijdee, Boonyarid Wongtorn, Siwadon Sanhatham, Thanathat Thaweerat, Mawin Maneewong, Tanapat Charoensuk, Christopher Arli Upakam, Chayut Khongrueng, Anurak Phanram, Assanaphan Chantajorn, Kissada Nilsawai
* Head coach
* Park Ki-won

## Awards

* Most valuable player
    Anurak Phanram (THA)
* Best setter
    Hwang Taek-eui (KOR)
* Best outside spikers
    Anut Promchan (THA)
    Mohamed Abdulla Yaqoob (BHR)
* Best middle blockers
    Kissada Nilsawai (THA)
    Kim Min-jae (KOR)
* Best opposite spiker
    Ali Khamis (BHR)
* Best libero
    Ayman Haroon (BHR)