AVC Girls’ U18 Volleyball Championship:
‘Experience was priority’: Iran coach shrugs off poor campaign
Head coach Akram Qahremani said her team prioritized gaining experience over results after Iran endured a disappointing campaign at the Asian Girls’ U18 Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Iran suffered a 3-2 defeat (23-25, 25-19, 25-18, 16-25, 15-12) to Hong Kong on Tuesday to finish 12th in the 16-team tournament, its lowest-ever placing in nine appearances since making its debut in 2008.
The result marked a significant step back for Iran, which had recorded its best-ever finish at the tournament in 2024 by placing sixth.
“Our players made fewer mistakes on serve than in previous matches, and it was a very good performance overall,” Qahremani said after the match. “However, at certain stages, Hong Kong’s experience made the difference, and our players were unable to manage the crucial moments.”
The head coach stressed that the primary objective of Iran’s campaign was player development rather than immediate results.
“Our approach throughout this tournament was to gain experience and develop players who can contribute to Iranian volleyball in the years ahead,” she said.
Qahremani added that the Iranian Volleyball Federation has adopted a long-term strategy for the girls’ U18 national team, acknowledging that building a competitive squad will require patience.
“The federation has adopted a long-term strategy for the girls’ U18 national team, so achieving success will naturally take time,” she said. “I hope we can fulfill the federation’s objectives in the coming years and that this team will produce better results overall.”
Iran began its campaign with a 3-1 loss to the Philippines before falling in straight sets to Indonesia and Japan to finish bottom of Pool C.
The team then defeated Australia in four sets before losing 3-0 to Chinese Taipei and concluding its campaign with the five-set defeat to Hong Kong.