Tabriz, Iran, July 5, 2018 – Formidable Japan moved a step closer to winning back-to-back Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship title after stunning hosts and current world U19 champions Iran in dramatic four sets in the action-packed semi-finals on Thursday night.

The impressive 25-20, 25-22, 25-27, 25-16 win at the Poursharifi Gymnasium gave title-holders Japan a final rematch with old foes Korea, the team they had beaten in straight sets in the final showdown of the previous edition in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar to eventually capture their maiden victory.

More importantly, the victory smashed Iran’s sweet dreams of playing in the final clash of the top-flight competition as the defending champions stunned the host side in a closely-contested semi-final clash at the packed venue.

Korea, the only team which have yet to lose a match to their respective rivals, powered past Chinese Taipei in straight sets 25-20 25-23 25-16 to maintain their remarkable unbeaten record in the championship.

Meanwhile, Thailand, which pulled off a scintillating 25-16, 25-22, 25-21 win over Australia on Thursday, will battle it out with China for the 5th place in this championship.

The Chinese had already prevailed India 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20) in the 5th-8th playoffs. India will take on Australia for the 7^th place.

In the classification round for lower-ranked sides, Turkmenistan returned with the 15^th place following a straight-set 25-17, 25-11, 25-20 win over Qatar in the 15th-16th playoff clash on Thursday.

Oman brushed off New Zealand 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21) to claim the 13^th place, with Pakistan seeing off Kazakhstan 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 27-25) in the 11^th-12^th playoff match. Sri Lanka claimed the 9^th position following their dramatic 3-1 (25-22, 25-14, 24-26, 25-23) win over Malaysia.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

DAY 7 (JULY 5)

PLAYOFFS

15th-16th: Turkmenistan b Qatar 3-0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-20)

13th-14th: Oman b New Zealand 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21)

11th-12th: Pakistan b Kazakhstan 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 26-28, 27-25)

9th-10th: Sri Lanka b Malaysia 3-1 (25-22, 25-14, 24-26, 25-23)

5th-8th:

Thailand b Australia 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-21)

China b India 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-17, 25-20)

SEMI-FINALS

Korea b Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-16)

Japan b Iran 3-1 (25-20, 25-22, 25-27, 25-16)

Final Matches

Classification

10:00 am: 7^th-8^th Playoffs: Australia v India

13:30 pm: 5^th-6^th Playoffs: Thailand v China

16:00 pm: Third-place playoff: Chinese Taipei v Iran

18:30 pm: Championship match: Japan v Korea

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