Tehran, Iran, May 20, 2022 – Invincible Peykan, powered by devastating Earvin Ngapeth, underlined their dominance over the 2022 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship after stunning Suntory Sunbirds with epic comeback in the highly-anticipated showdown at Azadi Hall on Friday.
Tehran Peykan’s dramatic 21-25, 26-28, 25-13, 25-20, 15-12 victory in the high-octane battle against the spirited Japanese side gave Iran the 16th Asian Club title in this top-tier Championship. The Iranians also emerged as defending and consecutive five-time champions in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, 2021 while the 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resounding victory with a remarkable unbeaten record in the 2022 Asian Club Championship has also secured Peykan a spot in the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship.
Four teams from Iran had already strutted their stuff in the Club World Championship. Peykan first took part in 2009 in Doha, Qatar and returned later for three more editions in 2010, 2011 and 2015. Sarmayeh Bank became the second team from Iran to pit their expertise against the world’s best club teams in 2017, followed by Khatam Ardakan in 2018 and Sirjan Foolad Iranian in 2021.
Earlier, Iran’s Shahdab Yazd pulled off a thrilling straight-set 25-20, 25-15, 25-22 win against Taraz VC from Kazakhstan in the third-place playoff match to grab the consolation bronze medal. It was another feat for Shahdab Yazd over the team they had already beaten 3-1 in their preliminary Pool B encounter.
Ali Toolokian, head coach of Shahdab, said, “We have worked too hard and up to now we just have two losses that brought us one gold medal in Premier League and bronze medal of the Asian Men’s Club Championship. Sometimes with two losses, you can be awarded the world champions. So this is very disappointing for us. I am happy for the fans and club members for this medal. This is the first Asian bronze for Shahdab but their expectation rises such as to think of the gold medal. I was wishing to be a finalist to set up All-Iranians final clash. I completed my mission with this club and my contract is finished now. I might stay with this team or I will change my team”.
“Congratulations to the club, players, staff and the people of Yazd. Our previous loss in the semifinals was just an accident. Today, we united to win. As you know, Taraz VC is a very good team as they could put Peykan under pressure yesterday. We were good at reception, block and attack. We really like to play in the final to set up an all-Iranians final. This is faith and we have to accept it”, said Mahdi Mahdavi, the captain of Shahdab Yazd.
“This was a good experience for us to play against the superstars. This was a great tournament and all the matches were tough. Yesterday’s loss of Shahdab made them come with a better rehabilitation. My players were tired and we could not finish with victory today”, said Boris Gerbennikov, head coach of Taraz VC.
Meanwhile, Al-Rayyan Club from Qatar put it past Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima to claim the 5th place in this topflight competition. Al-Rayyan remained in superb form to trounce Nakhon ratchasima in thrilling four-setter 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-18. The Thai outfit finished 6th place in this one-week championship.
“We finished this tournament with three wins and three losses. My players did their best. We had many problems during the tournament but we overcame problems. This is not a bad result. Honestly, this is our real standing at this moment. I hope, next time I can come to Iran not for volleyball but to visit this beautiful country. We had a very good stay here in Iran”, Zarko Ristoski, Ql-Rayyan’s head coach said.
Nakhon Ratchasima’s captain Wanchai Tabwises expressed his satisfaction with the final 6th position and said: “We thought we would finish 8th but it is good that we finished 6th. I am satisfied with our position.”
In the 7th-8th playoff clash, South Gas shrugged off their dismal start to edge past Erbil in a closely-contested battle 17-25, 25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 15-12 for an eventual 3-2 win and the 7th position.
En route to the 7th-place finish in this top-tier competition, South Gas Sport Club had one win against five losses to hosts Peykan, Nakhon Ratchasima QminC, Suntory Sunbirds, Shahdab Yazd, and Al-Rayyan.
Erbil, the second Iraqi team in this tournament did not win a single match in this Championship to finish 8th place.
“Technically both teams were the same. Errors were of the same style. South Gas has more professional players and they are in a better condition than us. Alaa, the head coach of South Gas is one of the fewest coaches of Iraq with good experience and knowledge. They trained more than us and had no time to spend in training. I was wishing to see South Gas among the final four to have at least one delegate from Iraq in a better position. Congratulations to them for this victory as they deserve it,” Iranian head coach of Erbil, Mohammad Hossein Nejati, said.
IRIVF President Dr Mohammad Reza Davarzani, and Control Committee President Mr Emile Jabbour from Lebanon jointly presided over the awards presentation. Control Committee Members including Technical Delegate Mr Mahmoud Afshardoust from Iran, Medical Delegate Dr Gholam Nowrouzi from Iran, Referee Delegate Mr Mohammad Shahmiri from Iran and Technical Sub-Committee Mr Amir Toloukian from Iran in attendance. Ms Sarah Hessaby, the international affairs director as the Press Delegate along with Ms Sawalee Thiansunhirun, SMM Marketing Manager was also invited.
Hosts Peykan received the Champions’ Trophy and gold medals, while Suntory Sunbirds and Iran’s M. Shahdab Yazd finished second and third places to claim silver and bronze medals respectively.
FINAL RANKING
1. Tehran Peykan (Iran)
2. Suntory Sunbirds (Japan)
3. M. Shahdab Yazd (Iran)
4. Taraz VC (Kazakhstan)
5. Al-Rayyan Sports Club (Qatar)
6. Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC (Thailand)
7. South Gas Sport Club (Iraq)
8. Erbil (Iraq)
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