Brazil remain unbeaten as Colombia and Russia shake up the standings at the 1st WMC Sitting Volleyball in Curitiba

 

 

CURITIBA (BRA) – The 1st CISM World Military Sitting Volleyball Championship continues to deliver exciting competition in Curitiba, Brazil, as the round-robin stage approaches its conclusion. Following three days of matches from 11 to 13 November 2026, host nation Brazil remain undefeated at the top of the standings, while Russia and Colombia have strengthened their positions in the race for the semi-finals. With the final round-robin matches scheduled for Saturday, 14 November, the battle for the four qualifying places is entering its decisive phase.

 

Organised by the Brazilian Ministry of Defence, through the Brazilian Delegation to CISM (CDMB), in partnership with the Fecomércio SESC SENAC Paraná System, the inaugural championship brings together 67 athletes, coaches and officials from Brazil, Colombia, France, Italy and Russia. The historic event, taking place from 9 to 18 November, represents an important milestone in CISM's commitment to inclusion and the development of military para-sport.

 

On Thursday, 12 November, CISM President Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho also held an important institutional meeting with the Mayor of Curitiba, Mr Eduardo Pimentel, and City Councilor Professor Euler de Freitas Silva Junior, Secretary of Sports. The discussions highlighted the city's strong commitment to supporting the inaugural World Military Sitting Volleyball Championship and strengthening its cooperation with CISM.

 

 

During the meeting, Curitiba reaffirmed its commitment to hosting international military sporting events, working alongside the Brazilian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence and key partners, including SESC Paraná, to provide the necessary infrastructure and hospitality for this historic championship. The discussions also opened promising perspectives for future CISM competitions in Curitiba, reflecting the city's ambition to establish itself as a welcoming destination for international military sport while promoting inclusion, sporting excellence and the values of Friendship through Sport.

 

After opening the competition with a hard-fought 3–1 victory over Russia on 11 November, Brazil continued their impressive campaign on Thursday, 12 November, securing a convincing 3–0 victory against Colombia. The hosts took control of the encounter with a 25–21 opening set before dominating the second set 25–8 and completing the victory 25–17.

 

In the day's second encounter, Russia bounced back from their opening defeat with a straight-sets victory over Italy. The Russian team displayed consistency throughout the match, winning 25–16, 25–14 and 25–19 to collect their first three points of the championship.

 

 

Friday, 13 November, brought further developments in the standings, with three matches producing important results in the race for qualification. Colombia delivered one of the most significant performances of the competition so far, defeating France 3–0 to claim their first victory of the championship. The Colombian team controlled the encounter from the outset, winning the opening set 25–17 before repeating the same score in the second. A 25–15 third set completed an impressive performance and gave Colombia three valuable points.

 

Brazil, meanwhile, continued their unbeaten run with another commanding display, overcoming Italy 3–0. The hosts dominated all three sets, winning 25–7, 25–9 and 25–9 to register their third consecutive victory and consolidate their position at the top of the standings.

 

The day's final encounter saw Russia defeat France 3–0, further strengthening their position among the leading teams. Russia took the opening set 25–10 before maintaining their advantage with 25–18 and 25–17 victories in the following sets.

 

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These results have left Brazil firmly in first place with nine points from three matches, having won nine sets and lost only one. Russia occupy second place with six points from three matches, followed by Colombia in third with three points from two matches. France sit fourth with three points from three encounters, while Italy remain fifth without a victory after three matches.

 

With the top four nations advancing to the semi-finals, the remaining round-robin fixtures will determine the final rankings and the matchups for the knockout stage. The final round-robin matches on Saturday, 14 November, will be particularly important for the teams seeking to secure their places in the semi-finals. Brazil will aim to preserve their perfect record, while Russia, Colombia and France will look to improve their positions ahead of the knockout stage. Italy, meanwhile, will be seeking their first victory of the championship.

 

 

The semi-finals are scheduled for Sunday, 15 November, with the first-ranked team facing the fourth-ranked team at 14:00, followed by the second-ranked team against the third-ranked team at 16:30. The championship will reach its sporting conclusion on Monday, 16 November, with the bronze-medal match at 09:00 and the final at 14:30, when the first-ever CISM World Military Sitting Volleyball champion will be crowned.

 

Beyond the sporting results, the championship continues to demonstrate the importance of providing opportunities for wounded and adaptive military athletes to compete at the highest level. Each match reflects the determination, teamwork and mutual respect that define military sport, while contributing to CISM's broader commitment to inclusion and international solidarity.

 

 

As the competition approaches its decisive stages, Curitiba remains the setting for a historic celebration of sporting excellence and military camaraderie, bringing together five nations united by the CISM motto: Friendship through Sport.

 

For further information, match results and the competition programme, visit the official championship website: https://sittingvolleyball2026.com/

 

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department and Brazilian Delegation to CISM - Pictures: Brazilian Delegation to CISM)