Pakistan U18s win Central Asian Volleyball gold

LAHORE: Pakistan under-18 volleyball team created ripples when they on Monday demolished strong Iran 3-1 in the final to claim gold in the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Under 18 Volleyball Championship in Tashkent.

After losing the first set 20-25 Pakistan’s juniors made stunning fightback and never looked back by lifting the next three sets 25-28, 25-23, 27-25 to seal a commanding win.

The title victory also enabled Pakistan to qualify for the 15th Asian Under-20 Volleyball Championship which will be held in Bahrain from July 28 to August 4, 2024.

Mohammad Yahya, Talal Ahmed and Khizar Hayat displayed fine skills.

Talal Ahmed was declared as the best setter, Mohammad Yahya got the best opposite hitter award, Jibran was adjudged as the best middle blocker and Mohammad Yahya was declared as most valuable player.

Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) chairman Mohammad Yaqoob was extremely happy with the achievement. “It’s a great achievement,” Yaqoob told The News after Pakistan’s super comeback win.

“Coach Saeed has done extremely well and I think the skills of these boys are much better than even the seniors and it is a sort of age in which you can develop and work on skills of the youngsters who are Pakistan’s future,” Yaqoob said.

“Pakistan volleyball is on the rise and we hope we will develop a very good senior team in future as we have a good nursery in the shape of these boys who are being developed and are on the brink of joining senior team,” Yaqoob said. He said that the boys will resume training for the Asian Under-20 event after Eid-ul-Adha.