The defending and seven-time champions beat Korea in Tuesday’s showdown. Japan claim bronze
Surabaya, Indonesia, July 30, 2024 – Iran powered past Korea in pulsating straight-set showdown to reign supreme in the 22nd Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Championship at Jawa Pos Arena here on Tuesday, stretching their aura of invincibility in the regional biennial competition to eight in total.
The exceptional 25-12, 25-18, 25-22 win gave the indomitable Iran a successful title defence with remarkable unbeaten record in Surabaya. Their three victories in succession in the Asian Men’s U20 Championship also augur well for their title defence campaign at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship. Iran had already captured the U21 world title twice in 2019 in Riffa and 2023 in Manama, both occasions in Bahrain.
Following the Tuesday’s win against former six-time Asian winners Korea, Iran have claimed 8 titles altogether in the Asian Men’s U20 Championship.
Since the championship inception in 1980, Iran took their debut title in 1998 and continued their domination in 2002, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2024 (the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
The Iranians beat Korea in three finals, 1998, 2018 and 2024, but lost to the same opponents just once in 2004. At the previous edition two years ago in Riffa, Bahrain, Iran defeated India 3-1 in the final clash.
Against Korea, the team they had already beaten 3-2 in the classification round 1-8 Pool F two days ago, in the much-anticipated showdown on Tuesday, Iran produced a dominant performance and counted on their splendid offensive system and productive weapons by outside hitter Seyed Matin Hosseini Tolouti and middle blocker Taha Behboudria to beat the Koreans.
Their serving was really good and their blocking and defense created a lot of problems to the Koreans, who did not make their mark and comfortably went down in the first two sets 12-25, 18-25.
The third set was closely-contested, with opposite Yun Gyeong and middle blocker Lim Ingyu scoring mostly for the Koreans. A powerful mid-court hit from Lee Woo-Jin, who won the Best Outside Spiker at the last year’s U19 World Championship in Argentina to his name, kept Korea hot on the rivals’ heels with just one point behind at 20-21.
However, despite playing well and a lot of respect for the fight they put in, Korea couldn’t keep their rhythm until the end. Iran reached the match point after a serve from middle blocker Lim Ingyu went out wide before the left-hander outside hitter Pouya Ariakhah hit a powerful swing to end the Korean challenge. Iran captured the hard-fought set 25-22, match and championship.
The third-place playoff clash earlier saw former three-time winners Japan bounce back from the first-set loss to Indonesia to stun the host side in well-fought four-setter 23-25, 27-25, 25-18, 25-20 to pick up bronze medal.
For the Japanese, it was a repeated feat over the same opponents as two days ago, they had already brushed off the Indonesians in straight sets in classification round 1-8 Pool E.
Moreover, the bronze achieved in Surabaya was the pride lost in the previous edition in Riffa, Bahrain the Japanese had already restored here. At Riffa two years ago, Japan returned with heads low in great despair following a disappointing 13th-place finish.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan finished fifth place after an epic tie-break win against India, silver medallists at the previous edition, 31-29, 20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-10 in the 5th-6th place playoff clash.
Former four-time champions China demolished Saudi Arabia in straight sets 25-20, 25-15, 25-21 to secure their 7th position, while the 9th place went to Thailand following their 26-24, 26-24, 25-20 triumph over Chinese Taipei, the team they had already beaten 3-2 in classification round 9-16 Pool H on July 27. In Riffa, Bahrain two years ago, Thailand showed their superb form to finish a well-earned fourth place.
The 11th position was won by Australia after avenging Hong Kong, China, the team they lost in straight sets in the pool play earlier, in thrilling four sets 27-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21 on Tuesday.
The 13th-14th playoff encounter saw Vietnam pull off comfortable straight-set 25-18, 25-19, 25-16 victory against Bangladesh to take the 13th place.
Kuwait, which finished on the bottom 17th in Riffa, Bahrain two years ago, improved their fortunes this time to beat Qatar with comeback 3-1 (25-27, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23) win for the 15th place. Qatar lost all seven matches contested in the eight-day championship to return with the bottom 16th position.
With top four teams in this championship securing their spots in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship, Korea, China, Indonesia and Kazakhstan have been confirmed to join the next year’s world meet. As current U21 world champions, the newly-crowned 2024 Asian winners Iran have already secured their place in the next year’s U21 World Championship.
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