Asian U18 Volleyball Championship:
Iran undone by China in the final
Iran had to settle for a runner-up finish in the Asian U18 Volleyball Championship after a five-set defeat against China in Riffa, Bahrain.
Fresh from a straight-set victory over defending champion Japan in the semifinals, Adel Gholami’s boys got off to flying start in Sunday’s showdown to win the first set 25-23 before the Chinese bounced back to come out on top in the second and third sets by 25-17 and 25-19 scorelines.
Iran still managed to force the contest into the decider thanks to a fourth-set 25-20 win, but China clinched a 15-10 triumph in the tie-breaker to repeat the five-set win against its opponent earlier in the group phase a win a maiden title in 15 editions of the competition.
This was a second successive silver medal for Iran, which remains the most decorated under-18 team in the continent with seven trophies.
Gholami said “a virus swept through the Iranian camp in recent days, which is why some players could not unleash their best in the final.”
“My players still deserve credit for the decent performance, but the Chinese were better than us in many aspects of the game, namely attack and reception. This China team was truly the best I’ve seen from the country in the age-group competitions over the past 20 years,” added the former Iranian middle blocker.
The result came after the Iranian under-20 side had beaten South Korea in straight sets in Surabaya, Indonesia, last Tuesday for a record-extending eighth Asian crown.
Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan walked away with a first-ever medal in the competition following a stunning 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-17) victory over Japan.
There was some consolation for the Iranian boys as three members of the team were among the winners of the individual awards.
Mohammad-Amin Rahimi shared the best outside-hitter award with China’s Yu Xiang, while Mohammad-Nima Bateni was named the joint best middle blocker – alongside Jabran Jabran of Pakistan – and Mohammad-Amin Arabyarmohammadi picked up the prize for best libero.