Manama, Bahrain, August 2, 2024 – Iran and China completed the semi-final line-up in the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship at the Isa Sport City Hall C here on Friday night.
Both sides were victorious in their Pool E games in the Top Eight round, setting up exciting clashes in the Final Four, which are to be held on Saturday.
The Iranians, silver medallists from the competition’s 2022 edition, ousted hosts Bahrainis on Friday and will next face off with Group F winners Japan at 7pm local time on Saturday evening. China powered past Thailand and will now take on Pakistan in another thrilling fixture in the last four at 4.30pm.
Iran outclassed the Bahrainis 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-14) to go to seven points and finish as runners-up in their group.
The Iranians showed their quality and were immediately in command with a one-sided opening set. Bahrain put in some resistance in the second and showed their pride as the home team, but the Iranians had all the answers and were not to be denied.
Parham Fadaei and Mobin Kolasangiani had 12 points apiece for the Iranians, while Jassim Madan had 15 points as Bahrain’s only player in double figures.
China, meanwhile, posted a dominant 3-0 (25-10, 25-13, 25-20) win against Thailand. The Chinese were in a class of their own and gave no chance for their opponents to get into their groove.
Li Xuyang spearheaded their team with 14 points, while Ding Haocheng chipped in 13. Kongkraphan Nimlamun had nine points for the Thais, while Sorasak Phunsanong finished with six.
China improved to eight points in first place on the final Pool E standings while maintaining their undefeated record. Thailand ended the Top Eight with two points, which they carried over from the preliminary round in a five-set victory against Bahrain.
The Bahrainis and Thais will play in the 5th-8th classification bracket on Saturday and Sunday.
In Pool F on Friday, Japan also stayed unbeaten with a 3-1 (22-25, 28-26, 25-18, 25-15) win over Pakistan in their Top Eight affair. Both sides had already secured their Final Four spots and battled to decide the group winners.
Japan rallied following a first-set setback behind the impressive play of their formidable quartet of Karen Masajedi, Rei Iwata, Sawa Maeda, and Yuki Kashiwazaki. Masajedi was exceptional in the close-out set, scoring eight of his team-high 18 points in that frame alone.
The defending and three-time champions came away with the full three points and ended this phase with a maximum of nine to top Pool F. They handed the Pakistanis their first loss of the competition and are on five points.
Maeda and Iwata added 13 points apiece for the Japanese, while Kashiwazaki scored 12. For Pakistan, Muhammad Yahya was their leading man with 21 points, while Muhammad Irfan chipped in 10.
In Friday’s other Pool F encounter, Korea cruised past Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-19). Having missed out on a ticket to the semi-finals, the Koreans are looking to secure their best final classification. They were on the top of their game both offensively and defensively against Chinese Taipei, and did well to quickly complete the three-set sweep.
Seungil Lee had 16 points for Korea, while Yeongun Cho added 11. Hu Jun-Xiang was Chinese Taipei’s top performer with 13 markers.
Their result against Chinese Taipei earned the Koreans their only win in this stage, which they finished with four points on the group standings. Chinese Taipei suffered their third loss and ended on zero markers.
Both sides now head for the 5th-8th bracket to end the championship on Saturday and Sunday.
In the consolation pools on Friday, Australia and Hong Kong, China pulled of dramatic wins in Pool G, while India and Saudi Arabia triumphed in Pool H.
The Australians impressed in a 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 17-25, 25-15) win over the Philippines, while Hong Kong, China defeated Lebanon, also in four sets, 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21).
Sionetupou Veamatahau had 20 points to spearhead the Australians, while Roderick Medino had 16 points for the Filipinos. Ching Kin Ko paced Hong Kong, China with 20 points. Serge Shehab led Lebanon in the loss with 16 points.
In Pool H, India outplayed Kazakhstan 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-19) to lead their group with a full nine points, while Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 29-27) in a battle between Gulf sides, both of whom were looking for their first victory of the competition.
In India’s win, Harnoor Singh finished with 20 points to lead them past the Kazakhs. The Saudi Arabians were spearheaded by Azzam Alsubaie’s 20 markers as they claimed their first set win of the tournament in Bahrain.
Australia, the Philippines, India, and Kazakhstan will next play in the 9th-12th classification bracket for their final ranking on Saturday and Sunday. Hong Kong China, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will battle for 13th to 16th places.
POOL RANKING
POOL E 1-8
POOL F 1-8
POOL G 9-16
POOL H 9-16
MATCH SCHEDULE
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