Yazd, Iran, September 9, 2024 – The second day of the 2024 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship brought an exciting series of matches as Iran’s top clubs continued their impressive winning streak in front of an energized crowd at Shahediyeh Hall. Four matches were played, each showcasing exceptional talent and competitive spirit from clubs across Asia. With Iranian teams emerging as strong contenders, the tournament is heating up with the quarterfinals on the horizon.
Shahdab Yazd’s Home Triumph Against Pavlodar of Kazakhstan
In the day’s headline match, hosts Shahdab Yazd delivered a commanding performance, overcoming a resilient challenge from Pavlodar Volleyball Club of Kazakhstan in a thrilling 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-20) victory. Although Pavlodar took the first set, Shahdab responded with precision and power, winning three consecutive sets to secure their second win of the tournament. The match drew a crowd of over 6,000 fans, who cheered passionately for their home team, creating a lively and charged atmosphere in the hall.
Morteza Sharifi, Shahdab’s star player, was the standout performer with an impressive 20 points, while Maxim Michshenko led Pavlodar with 10 points.
Speaking after the match, Shahdab’s head coach, Rahman Mohammadirad, praised his team’s adaptability and resilience:
“Congratulations to all the fans and players. It was a really tough game, and the Kazakh team showed good quality. Their player number 10 (Michshenko), who didn’t play yesterday, caused us trouble in the first set with his excellent serves, but our experience and the introduction of fresh players helped turn the game around. After that, we dominated and won convincingly. Pavlodar are strong team, but our determination pulled us through.”
For Pavlodar, head coach Sergei Gribov acknowledged the challenge posed by the Iranian side but remained optimistic about future matches: “We won the first set, but Shahdab’s strength and depth proved too much. We are now focused on winning our next matches and doing our best in the remainder of the tournament.”
With two victories and six points from the opening days, Shahdab Yazd are emerging as one of the top contenders for the championship title.
Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi Find Form Against Kuwait Sporting Club
Another significant result came from Pool A, where Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi of Indonesia secured their first win of the tournament with a dominant straight-set victory over Kuwait Sporting Club 25-18, 25-20, 25-19. The Indonesian club, powered by a well-rounded team performance, stifled Kuwait’s attempts to gain any momentum throughout the match.
Key players for Jakarta included Earvin Ngapeth, Jean Patry, and Agil Angga, each contributing double digits (13, 12, and 12 points respectively).
Reidel Alfonso Gonzales Toiran, head coach of Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi, was pleased with his team’s execution: “In every match, we strive to coordinate our team and execute our game plan. The players performed well today, though there was a moment where referee issues disrupted the flow of the match. Despite that, we managed to stay focused and finish strong.”
Kuwait’s head coach Taner Atik expressed understanding of his team’s limitations, stating: “As expected, we struggled physically. This team is still in development, and we have to plan for future success. Some key players were rested today, but those on the court gave their best.”
Jakarta will face Pavlodar Volleyball Club in the next crucial Pool A match, where both teams will fight for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Al-Rayyan Rebound with Victory Over Kam Air
In Pool B, Al-Rayyan Sports Club of Qatar rebounded from their first-day loss by defeating Kam Air of Afghanistan 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-16, 25-19). While Kam Air put up a spirited fight, especially in the second set, the Qatari side managed to regain control and close out the match with solid performances from Marcus Vinisius (19 points) and the rest of the team. Despite the loss, Kam Air’s Naser Kohistani delivered the day’s highest individual scoring performance with 23 points.
Morad Sennoun, head coach of Al-Rayyan, noted his team’s gradual improvement: “We did not play as well as we would have liked, but we are getting better game by game. Our focus is now on preparing for the semifinals, and we will approach each match step by step.”
Meanwhile, Kam Air’s coach, Hamid Movahedi, praised his players’ resilience in difficult circumstances: “We have only been training together for 25 days under challenging conditions, but the team gave their all. The level of competition here is incredibly high, with some of the world’s top players participating. We’re using this experience to prepare for future competitions.”
Foolad Sirjan Iranian Secure Top Spot in Pool B
In the final match of the day, Iranian club Foolad Sirjan Iranian continued their dominant form with a commanding 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-19) victory over Iraq’s Gas Al Janoob. Foolad’s victory solidified their position at the top of the pool, while Gas Al Janoob, which upset Al-Rayyan of Qatar on the first day, experienced their first loss of the competition.
Foolad Sirjan’s head coach, Behrouz Ataei Nouri, praised his team’s tactical discipline: “The Iraqi team surprised everyone on day one with their victory over Al-Rayyan, so we prepared thoroughly and entered the match with a clear plan. My players executed well, though there were some moments of carelessness. Now we focus on our next challenge against Al-Rayyan, which will be a high-quality contest.”
Gas Al Janoob’s head coach, Alaa Khalaf Abulsattar, acknowledged the strength of the Foolad team but emphasized that his focus is on securing second place in the pool: “Sirjan are a great team with many international players. Our team were tired from yesterday’s match, and unfortunately, we lost one of our key middle blockers. Nevertheless, we are determined to prepare for our final pool match against Afghanistan and secure a quarterfinal spot.”
MATCH RESULTS
September 9
Al-Rayyan (QAT) b Kam Air (AFG) 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-16, 25-19)
Jakarta Bhayangkara (INA) b Kuwait SC (KUW) 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-19)
Shahdab Yazd (IRI) b Pavlodar VC (KAZ) 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-20)
Foolad Sirjan (IRI) b Gas Al Janoob (IRQ) 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-19)
MATCH SCHEDULE
September 10
11:00am: Pavlodar Volleyball Club (KAZ) v Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (INA)
14:00pm: Gas Al Janoob (IRQ) v Kam Air (AFG)
17:00pm: Shahdab Yazd (IRI) v Kuwait Sporting Club (KUW)
20:00pm: Foolad Sirjan Iranian (IRI) v Al-Rayyan Sports Club (QAT)
As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on the Iranian teams, which are showing the depth and strength needed to contend for the championship title. Fans can look forward to more electrifying volleyball action as the pool phase wraps up Tuesday and teams prepare for the quarter finals.
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