Islamabad, Pakistan, May 16, 2024 – Hosts Pakistan secured their berth in the final showdown of the 2nd Engro Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Nations League at Liaqat Gymnasium inside PSB Sports Complex in Islamabad following their consecutive fourth win on Wednesday.
Pakistan had already claimed three wins against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Turkmenistan to collect 9 points in the single round-robin competition. The host side stayed on course on Wednesday with another victory.
The excitement of the tournament continued to soar as the eagerly awaited match between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan unfolded on Wednesday. In a display of sheer dominance, the Pakistani team showcased their exceptional skills and emerged victorious with a clean sweep over Kyrgyzstan 25-18, 27-25, 27-25. The Pakistanis’ remarkable performance, coupled with their strategic gameplay, ensured a well-deserved win for the team.
With the fourth win against Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, Pakistan remained unstoppable in the 6-team tournament to lead the pack with unchallenged 12 points in total. Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka had 7 points apiece from similar two wins against one loss to come in second and third places. Iran bagged 5 points from one win against two losses to trail in 5th position, with lacklustrous Afghanistan on bottom of the 6th place.
With only one day remaining in the round-robin preliminaries on Thursday, Pakistan are assured of advancing to the showdown, while the remaining slot in the final is still open for Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Iran and Kyrgyzstan. Losing-streak Afghanistan stand on the brink of missing the cut.
Earlier in the first match on Wednesday, Sri Lanka clashed with Iran in a highly-anticipated encounter. Sri Lanka displayed exceptional prowess on the court, securing a convincing 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-21) victory over the Iranian team.
The Sri Lankans’ cohesive strategy and stellar execution left the Iranian team struggling to keep up, ultimately resulting in an exceptional win for Sri Lanka.
Following the exhilarating clash between Sri Lanka and Iran, the stage was set for the next encounter between Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. The match proved to be a thrilling contest, with both teams delivering an outstanding performance.
Despite facing a tough challenge from the Afghan team, Turkmenistan fared better to emerge victorious with a magnificent comeback 3-1 (18-25, 33-31, 25-17, 25-17), showcasing the resilience and determination of both teams throughout the match.
On Thursday, Afghanistan go up against Kyrgyzstan. Turkmenistan will take on Sri Lanka, with Pakistan facing off against Iran.
After completion of the single round-robin competition on Thursday, top two teams will battle it out for the eventual title on Friday, with the next best two teams contesting the third place play off for bronze medal.
QUICK LINKS
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
Mikasa Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/mikasasports_official
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation