Fergana, Uzbekistan, May 30, 2025 – The Day 2 action of the CAVA Men’s Volleyball Nations League 2025 marked another thrilling chapter in this historic tournament, as it became the first-ever CAVA event to be officially recognized as a World Ranking (WR) competition by the FIVB.
The tournament, which is running from May 29 to June 4, is not only a showcase of Central and South Asia’s top volleyball talent but also marks a turning point for the region, as teams compete for crucial points that contribute to their global rankings.
Pakistan Dominate Kyrgyzstan in Pool B
The day opened with a commanding performance by Pakistan, whic made their debut in the competition against Kyrgyzstan. The Pakistani team showed strength and discipline across all three sets, winning 3–0 (25–15, 25–14, 25–18) in just one hour and 10 minutes.
Pakistan’s attack was spearheaded by Murad Khan and Faryad Usman, who consistently broke through Kyrgyzstan’s defense. With 75 total points won and only 47 conceded, Pakistan secured their position at the top of Pool B, displaying their potential as strong contenders for the title.
Iran Edge Past Turkmenistan in a Four-Set Thriller
The afternoon match saw a high-intensity clash between reigning champions Iran and Turkmenistan, two of the most competitive teams in Pool A. Iran maintained their unbeaten record by defeating Turkmenistan 3–1 (28–26, 25–21, 23–25, 29–27) in a nail-biting encounter that lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Iran’s Alireza Abdolhamidi was instrumental in the win, scoring 32 points with a 62% attack success rate, while Amirreza Aftabazari and Amirhasan Molaabasi added key contributions. Turkmenistan’s Bayramgeldi Veyisov and Mekan Durdylyyev fought back fiercely, pushing the match to extended points in three of the four sets.
Despite their strong performance, Turkmenistan fell short, but still showcased their growing competitiveness on the WR stage.
India Outclass Hosts Uzbekistan
The evening action concluded with India taking on host nation Uzbekistan in front of a supportive local crowd. India controlled the match from start to finish, winning 3–0 (25–18, 25–16, 25–20) in one hour and 17 minutes.
Chirag Chirag led the Indian side with a standout performance, supported by Charles Jerome Vinit and John Thanghalathil, who displayed precision in both serve and attack. Uzbekistan, despite energetic efforts from Ogabek Haydarov and Sajadj Murobidinov, couldn’t find a breakthrough. This win moves India to second place in Pool A behind undefeated Iran.
After two days, Iran led Pool A with 6 points from two straight wins, followed by India with 3 points from one win against one loss. Turkmenistan also had 3 points from one win against one loss to trail in third place, with hosts Uzbekistan suffering two losses in a row to come in fourth place with no point awarded.
Pakistan dominated Pool B with 3 points from one win, with Kyrgyzstan trailing in second place with 3 points from one win against one loss and Kazakhstan in third position with no point earned from one loss.
World Ranking Significance
As the first CAVA competition integrated into the FIVB World Ranking (WR) system, every match, set, and point now holds increased importance. Teams are not only vying for the CAVA Nations League title but also accumulating ranking points that influence seeding and qualification in international competitions.
This milestone strengthens CAVA’s position within the global volleyball community and signals a new era for the development of the sport in Central and South Asia.
The tournament continues on Saturday with more high-stakes encounters as teams battle for supremacy and WR points on the court in Fergana.
MATCH RESULTS
MATCH SCHEDULE
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