IRAN SET UP FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH OLD FOES KOREA AT ASIAN MEN U20 CHAMPIONSHIP – Asian Volleyball Confederation

July 2018
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IRAN SET UP FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH OLD FOES KOREA AT ASIAN MEN U20 CHAMPIONSHIP

Manama, Bahrain, July 27, 2018 – Fired-up Korea, which went down in straight sets to the mighty Iranians in the Pool A preliminaries, have their sights firmly set on avenging the old foes when both sides set up a final showdown at the 19th Asian Men’s U20 Volleyball Championship at the Isa Sport City Hall.

The rematch has been set after Iran, fielding seven players who joined a squad which captured the world title at the last year’s FIVB Men’s U19 World Championship in Riffa, Bahrain, pulled off a dramatic 3-1 (25-14 25-18 15-25 25-14) victory over Thailand in the semi-final clash, while Korea brushed off Iraq in straight sets 25-17 25-16 25-22 in the other semi-final encounter.

For Iran, the showdown in Manama on Saturday is their 9th final at the top-flight competition including three in a row in 2014, 2016 and 2018. Japan captured the Asian crown in 2010 and 2012, while Iran took the title in 2014 and China in 2016.

With their convincing wins over Thailand and Iraq in respective semi-finals on Friday, Iran and Korea have been guaranteed of winning the two slots ups for grab for the 2019 FIVB Men’s U21 World Championship.

The two losers Thailand and Iraq will battle it out in the third-place playoff , while China thrashed Australia in straight sets 25-14 25-19 25-22 to play Chinese Taipei in the 5th-6th playoff. Chinese Taipei also had a field day on Friday following their sensational 15-19 25-18 25-21 win over Kazakhstan. The Kazakhs now have to fight it out with Australia for the seventh position.

Hosts Bahrain, which failed to make the grade and dropped from the top eight teams, regained their pride on Friday after a well-earned 3-1 (23-25 25-15 25-13 25-8) win over Turkmenistan to next take on Sri Lanka in the 9th-10th playoff.

Lacklustrous Qatar, which have yet won a match in this championship, will challenge Turkmenistan in the 11th-12th playoff.

India claimed the 15th place in this championship after downing Saudi Arabia 3-1 (23-25 25-18 25-16 25-17), while Japan tamed Pakistan 3-0 (25-21 25-17 25-10) to return with 13th place, while the 17th-20th playoffs encounter saw New Zealand beat Jordan in a hard-fought five-set thriller after winning 25-16 18-25 25-22 23-25 17-15. New Zealand will play the UAE in the 17th-18th playoff.

Macao already claimed the 21st place after powering past Maldives in straight sets 25-13 25-18 25-22, leaving Maldives to leave with the 22nd position.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Day 7

Court 1

(5^th-8^th) Chinese Taipei b Kazakhstan 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-21)

(5^th-8^th) China b Australia 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-22)

(1^st-4^th) Iran b Thailand 3-1 (25-14, 25-18, 15-25, 25-14)

(1^st-4^th) Korea v Iraq 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-22)

Court 2

(21^st-22^nd) Macao b Maldives 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-22)

(9^th-12^th) Bahrain b Turkmenistan 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-8)

(17^th-20^th) New Zealand b Jordan 3-2 (25-16, 18-25, 25-22, 23-25, 17-15)

(15^th-16^th) India b Saudi Arabia 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-17)

(13^th-14^th) Japan b Pakistan 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-10)

MATCH SCHEDULE

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Court 1

11:30am – Kazakhstan v Australia (7^th-8^th)

14:00pm – Chinese Taipei v China (5^th-6^th)

16:30pm – Thailand v Iraq (3^rd-4^th)

19:00pm – Iran v Korea (1^st-2^nd)

Court 2

10:00am – Hong Kong v Jordan (19^th-20^th)

12:30pm – Emirates v New Zealand (17^th-18^th)

15:00pm – Qatar v Turkmenistan (11^th-12^th)

17:30pm – Sri Lanka v Bahrain (9^th-10^th)

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