Jiangmen, China, January 9, 2020 – Korea struggled to beat Qatar 3-2 (25-18 28-26 22-25 20-25 15-13) in their last preliminary match of the AVC Men’s Tokyo Qualification at the Jiangmen Sports Centre Gymnasium on Thursday, but finished second to the Qataris in Pool B and joined the same rivals in the semi-finals.
Korea played a do-or-die encounter against unbeaten Qatar on Thursday. A possible loss would give the Koreans, who picked up silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, a third-place finish in Pool B, dashing their hopes of making the next round.
However, following the hard-fought win, Korea had 6 points from two wins against one loss to Australia to come in second place in the Pool. Qatar captured the top spot of Pool B after claiming 7 points from two wins against one loss to Korea. Australia, which beat India 3-1 in the match earlier, had 5 points from two wins against one loss to Qatar to crash out of the competition, sad and heart broken.
In their crucial match against Qatar, Korea, fourth place at the last year’s Asian Senior Men’s Championship, fielded a strong lineup which brushed off India in straight sets the previous match. They included hard-hitting Jeon Kwang-In, Shin Yungsuk and Jung Jiseok. Qatar were also strong with the likes of the 206cm-tall Ibrahim Ibrahim, powerful Belal Nabel Anunabot.
Korea started aggressively to take an initial 12-4 lead, courtesy of spectacular attacks from devastating left-hander Park Chulwoo and terrific jump serves by Jeon Kwang-In and stretched it to 18-9. Qatar regrouped and hit back with attacks and high blocks to score four points in a row to narrow the margin 13-18. However, Korea stormed on their attacks to win the thrilling set 25-18.
The second set was more thrilling as both sides gave it all out to trade attacks and points. Levelling 24-24, Korea held on, with Park Chulwoo and Jeon Kwang-In overcoming the taller blockers with their aggressive attacks to help the Koreans win back-to-back points for the hard-fought 28-26 win in the set.
Korea badly needed the win in the third set to make their dreams of advancing to the semi-finals come true. However, the Qataris taught them victory never comes easily as Abunabot and Ibrahim took turns chipping in with several points from sharp shots and blocks to help the team win the close set 25-22.
Qatar still gained the upper hand in the fourth set when they came up with scintillating blocks and attacks from Renan Ribeiro and Ibrahim to win the set 25-20, forcing the Koreans to compete in the decider.
Both teams poured everything they had in the tiebreaker, but Korea fared better tactically and technically. Park Chulwoo fired some good shots to move the Koreans ahead 14-13, needing only one more point to win the set and match. Moments later, a serve from Nikola Vasic went wide and the Koreans were on cloud nine, jumping with great joy and hugging one another. The Koreans finally made it to the semi-finals of this top-tier competition.
Park Chulwoo scored a match-high 20 points including 18 attacks from 38 attempts, while Belal Nabel Abunabot led Qatar with 18 points from 9 attacks, a team-leading 8 blocks and 1 ace.
Qatar head coach Camilo Andres Soto from Argentina: “The intensive tournament was not easy for the players. They were somehow unconscious about the situation that we not only need to go to the semi-finals, but also get the first place in the group. We have no idea who is going to top the Pool A yet, considering it is a tough group. All we could do is to continue pushing. Korea is a very strong team. They are in the world ranking over than us. So we did as well as we could to reverse the situation, getting the point to put us in the first place. It was a good fight for us anyway.”
Qatar captain Ibrahim: “It was a very good game full of energy. In order to enter the semi-finals, Korea had nothing to lose. So they had to do all their best. My team woke up in the middle because we had to take the first place of the group. Then we tried our best to get at least two sets. We tried to win the game, but Korea did much better today.”
Korea head coach Im Dohun: “Qatar served high and they are so strong that we failed to receive well in the third and fourth sets. I am happy to advance to semi-finals. We will prepare well tomorrow. No matter which team will be the winners between Iran and China, we shall just concentrate on our final purpose.”
Korea captain Shin Yungsuk: “I am happy to go to the semi-finals. I think on the road to the final, every match is very important. I will do my utmost as always.”
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