The groups for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games sitting volleyball competition were announced on Friday (6 May) and will pit the finalists from both the men’s and women’s competitions at London 2012 together in the opening stages.

In the men’s competition Bosnia and Herzegovina, the current Paralympic, world and European champions, have been drawn in Pool B alongside five-time Paralympic gold medallists Iran, the side currently ranked as the world no.1. The two rivals have contested the last four Paralympic finals dating back to Sydney 2000 and it was the European side that came out on top last time round at London 2012.  The two powerhouses of the sport are joined in Pool B by Russia and China.

Become an expert on sitting volleyball with our infographic

World silver medallists and hosts Brazil are currently second in the world rankings and they headline Pool A.  In the opening matches, the gold medallists from the Parapan American Games in Toronto will face Egypt, Germany and the USA.

The highlight of the opening round in the women’s competition will be the Pool B contest between two huge rivals – China and the USA.  The two sides have played out the gold medal match at the last two Paralympic Games with world champions China coming out on top on both occasions.  In Pool B they will also face Iran and Rwanda, who made history last year by becoming the first African women’s side to qualify for a Paralympic Games.

Hosts and world No.4 side Brazil are in Pool A together with Ukraine, who are one place above them in the current world rankings, along with Parapan-American Games bronze medallists Canada and Russia.

All sitting volleyball matches will be held in the Riocentro Pavilion 6 between 9 and 18 September. The venue is located in the Barra cluster, which will contain the largest concentration of Games venues.