FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship:
Pakistan rivalry renewed as Iran eyes last-four spot
Iran and Pakistan are set for a fourth encounter in a year – their second in seven days – when they square off in an all-Asian quarterfinal at the FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Doha today.
Iran defeated Chinese Taipei in straight sets (25-18, 25-19, 25-21), while Pakistan pulled off a remarkable fightback to beat Egypt in a five-set thriller (17-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-15, 15-12) in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
Captain and opposite spiker Sina Hazrati topped the scoring for Iran with 20 points, with outside hitter Arash Ashrafi adding 10, as Iran came out on top against the East Asian side – a semifinalist in the previous edition – for a second time in Doha, having also emerged victorious in straight sets in the pool phase.
Having beaten Iran twice at the Asian U16 Championship last year, Pakistan will chase a third win in four outings against its western neighbor, looking to make up for its comprehensive loss in Pool E on Friday.
Pakistan came out on top against Iran in four sets in a second-round pool game at the Asian U16 event before rallying from two sets down to stun Arash Sadeqiani’s boys in the final in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, last summer.
Iran, however, avenged the two setbacks in style, with Hazrati and Ashrafi stealing the show with a game-high 16 points apiece to steer their team to a commanding 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-18) triumph at the world showpiece.
A global powerhouse in age-group volleyball, Iran will look to improve on its fifth-place finish at the inaugural world U17 event in 2024, where it defeated Belgium 3-2 in its final classification match.
The winner of today’s game will face Argentina or Poland in the semifinals on Friday.
In a repeat of the 2024 final in Sofia, Argentina defeated holders Italy 3-1 (25-20, 25-23, 20-25, 25-16) to advance, while Poland rallied from two sets down to edge Turkey 3-2 (22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22, 15-9).
Elsewhere in the round of 16, France came from behind to beat Spain 3-2 (23-25, 25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 15-10), setting up a quarterfinal clash against Romania, which overcame Tunisia 3-1 (25-16, 25-11, 23-25, 25-19).
The stage is also set for an all-South American battle between Brazil and Venezuela for a place in the semifinals.
Brazil made quick work of India, winning 25-17, 25-13 and 25-14, while Venezuela knocked out Bulgaria after delivering a stunning fightback to win 3-2 (28-30, 17-25, 25-19, 25-18, 15-12).