Shahdab Yazd’s middle blocker and skipper Masoud serves in a match against Pavlodar Volleyball Club
Yazd, Iran, September 13, 2024 – The 2024 Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship is nearing its thrilling conclusion in Yazd, Iran, with two Iranian volleyball powerhouses, Shahdab Yazd and Foolad Sirjan, set to face off in a highly-anticipated all-Iranian final on Sunday. The tournament, running from September 8-15 at the Shahediyeh Hall in Yazd, has featured top club teams from across Asia battling for supremacy and the prestigious opportunity to compete in the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship later this year in India.
Foolad Sirjan Iranian face a strong challenge from Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi
The intense competition has showcased the high level of skill and teamwork in Asian volleyball, with each match drawing enthusiastic crowds, particularly the local supporters of the host team, Shahdab Yazd.
Day 6 Recap
5th-8th Classification Matches and Semifinals
Gas Al-Janoob (IRQ) vs Kam Air (AFG) – 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-18)
In Friday’s 5th-8th classification round, Gas Al-Janoob from Iraq sought redemption against Afghanistan’s Kam Air, avenging their pool stage loss with a commanding straight-sets victory (25-22, 25-17, 25-18). Kam Air had previously stunned Gas Al-Janoob 3-0 in the pool preliminaries, but the Iraqi side entered Friday’s match with renewed determination and dominated from start to finish.
Gas Al-Janoob’s head coach, Alaa Khalaf, was pleased with the outcome but acknowledged the disappointment from their earlier defeat.
He said, “I congratulate my players for their performance today. We executed a solid defense and attack, and our serving was strong. However, the earlier loss to Kam Air still weighs on us.”
Kam Air’s head coach, Hamid Movahedi, expressed his frustration at the team’s performance. “We started well, leading early in the first set, but our opposite hitter struggled, and we had no replacement. That broke the team’s morale, and they could not recover mentally. Our players are still young and lack experience, which showed today,” Movahedi said.
Gas Al-Janoob’s outside hitter, Mohammed Ali Anwar Abdulrasool, added, “Although we lost to Kam Air in the pool stages, today we were able to show our true capabilities by correcting our previous mistakes.”
Al-Rayyan Sports Club (QAT) vs Kuwait Sporting Club (KUW) – 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-19)
In the second classification match, Al-Rayyan Sports Club of Qatar dropped the first set to defeat Kuwait Sporting Club 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-19). Al-Rayyan’s victory sets up a rematch against Gas Al-Janoob for 5th place.
Al-Rayyan’s head coach, Morad Sennoun, downplayed the positional importance of the match but acknowledged the mental intensity of playing against another Arab team. “Even though the match was for positions between 5th and 8th, the fact that it was a derby between two Arab teams made it mentally important for us to win,” said Sennoun.
Kuwait Sporting Club’s head coach, Taner Atik, remarked, “We started well, taking the first set, but physically and mentally, we couldn’t maintain our level in the subsequent sets. Congratulations to Al-Rayyan for the well-deserved victory.”
Al-Rayyan’s outside hitter, Vinicius Marcus, emphasized the high level of the competition, adding, “Today we showed a much better performance, and it was satisfying to get the win.”
Semifinals
Shahdab Yazd and Foolad Sirjan Claim Spots in the Final
Shahdab Yazd (IRI) vs Pavlodar Volleyball Club (KAZ) – 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19)
In the first semifinal clash, host team Shahdab Yazd delivered an exceptional performance in front of a roaring home crowd to defeat Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar Volleyball Club 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19). With this victory, Shahdab Yazd secured one of Asia’s two berths in the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship.
The atmosphere in Shahediyeh Hall was electric, with thousands of fans providing vocal support throughout the match. The team’s head coach, Rahman Mohammadirad, praised the fans and his players for their efforts.
“I congratulate the team and the fans for this amazing victory. Our players fought hard, not only for themselves but for the glory of Iranian volleyball and the promise they made to the fans. Our goal was to secure the World Championship quota, and now we’ll fight to win the Asian title in front of our supporters,” Mohammadirad said.
Among the notable spectators at the semifinal match was Lee Do Hee, the Korean head coach of Iran’s women’s national team, who commented on the high energy in the venue and the impressive dedication of the Yazd fans.
Foolad Sirjan Iranian (IRI) vs Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (INA) – 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 16-14)
The second semifinal encounter saw an intense five-set battle between Foolad Sirjan Iranian and Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi of Indonesia. Both teams were determined to claim the second World Club Championship quota, with neither side willing to concede.
After going toe-to-toe for five sets, Foolad Sirjan emerged victorious, winning 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 16-14) in a thrilling tie-breaker.
Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi, featuring two Olympians, fought valiantly but were narrowly edged out by Foolad Sirjan, which now advanced to the final for an all-Iranian showdown with Shahdab Yazd. Foolad Sirjan’s head coach was proud of his team’s mental resilience, particularly in the deciding moments.
Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi will now face Pavlodar Volleyball Club for the 3rd place match on September 15.
Upcoming Matches: Final Showdown and Classifications
The championship concludes on September 15, with four crucial matches scheduled. The 7th-8th place classification match between Kuwait Sporting Club and Kam Air of Afghanistan will take place at 14:00pm local time, followed by the 5th place playoff match between Gas Al-Janoob and Al-Rayyan Sports Club of Qatar at 17:00pm, both on September 14.
On September 15, Pavlodar Volleyball Club and Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi will battle for the 3rd place at 14:00pm, while the grand finale between Shahdab Yazd and Foolad Sirjan is set for 17:00pm. The two Iranian clubs will go head-to-head for the Asian Club Championship, ensuring a proud moment for Iranian volleyball fans, as both teams have already secured their spots in the FIVB Men’s Club World Championship.
MATCH RESULTS
September 13
Gas Al-Janoob (IRQ) b Kam Air (AFG)3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-18)
Al-Rayyan Sports Club (QAT) b Kuwait Sporting Club (KUW) 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-19)
Shahdab Yazd (IRI) b Pavlodar Volleyball Club (KAZ) 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19)
Foolad Sirjan Iranian (IRI) b Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (INA) 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 16-14)
MATCH SCHEDULE (all local time)
September 14
14.00pm: 7th-8th Place: Kuwait Sporting Club (KUW) vs Kam Air (AFG)
17.00pm: 5th-6th Place: Gas Al-Janoob (IRQ) vs Al-Rayyan Sports Club (QAT)
September 15
14.00pm: Bronze-Medal Match: Pavlodar Volleyball Club (KAZ) vs Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (INA)
17.00pm: Championship Match: Shahdab Yazd (IRI) vs Foolad Sirjan Iranian (IRI)
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