FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship:
Unbeaten Iran to face Argentina for final berth
A place in Sunday’s final showpiece will be up for grabs when Iran and Argentina square off in the FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship in Manama, Bahrain, today.
Days after a disappointing Volleyball Nations League campaign concluded for the Iranian seniors’ team in Anaheim, California, volleyball fans in the country took some consolation in watching their under-21 side continue its perfect run in the Bahraini capital with a victory over Bulgaria on Thursday.
Amir-Mohammad Golzadeh chipped in 21 points as Gholamreza Momeni-Moqaddam’s boys came out on top in four sets (25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23) to finish atop Pool E in the last-eight group phase.
Mobin Nasri contributed with 16 points – including a remarkable five aces – for Iran with middle blocker Shayan Sepehrifard finishing on 13 points.
“The tournament has just begun for Iran. We are here to win the title,” said Iranian outside hitter Nasri, who hailed the team’s “mental strength” in recovering from a second-set setback.
Aleksander Nikolov, meanwhile, scored a game-high 23 points – six aces – for the Bulgarians, who will play defending champion Italy in the other last-four clash today.
This was the six successive victory at the event for Iran, which is chasing a second world title in Manama after a maiden triumph in 2019.
The reigning Asian champion opened the competition with a straight-set win against Thailand before coming from two sets down to beat Tunisia.
Momeni-Moqaddam’s side then outclassed the host in three sets to win Pool A and progress into the quarterfinals alongside Thailand.
Iranian boys picked up in the last eight where they had left off in the preliminary round, easing past Poland – bronze medalist in 2021 – in straight sets, and repeated the 3-0 victory over Thailand before Bulgaria showdown.
Elsewhere on Thursday, Italy, also yet to concede a defeat in Manama, rallied from behind to beat Belgium 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 16-25, 15-9) for a top finish in Pool F, while in the second-place decider Argentina defeated South American foe Brazil 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-18).