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While sports that allow both genders to compete alongside each other is common in racket sports including badminton, tennis, squash and table tennis; major teams do not encourage such mixed events.
Team sports ranging such as football, basketball and hockey are gender specific and it is highly unlikely that you would see a mixed team international competition in the near future.
But come March 2020, Japan would be doing just that when they host the World Mixed Volleyball championships.
At least 10 countries are expected to make the trip to Tateyama City in Chiba, Japan from March 4-8 to battle it out for the title.
Played by team of three men and three women, mixed volleyball is the brainchild of Yoshihiro Oe, who is also the founder president of the Japanese Mixed Volleyball Association.
While much of the normal volleyball game are retained, the mixed volleyball would see several crucial changes to the rules. This includes the use of a much lighter ball with softer outer surface.
Just like the conventional game the six players rotate positions. However the male and female players are positioned alternately on court. This ensures that there is at least one player of the opposite sex in either the front or back row.
Team are allowed to have four liberos in the roster and the entire back row can take the role of libero. However, jump serves and back row attacks are not allowed.
The World Cup would have three categories competed – Free Category, Shinobi Category and Samurai Category.
For the Free Category there no restrictions on the while in the Shinobi Category players must not be taller than 185cm. As for the Samurai category, the total age of the team players must not exceed 200 years.
As of date, the tournament has attracted teams from several countries including Japan, Russia, Australia, France, Hong Kong, India and the USA.
Anybody in Malaysia game for the challenge?
For more info log on to their official website here.
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