Pakistan face China in Asian Junior Volleyball today

KARACHI: Pakistan will begin their journey in the Asian Men’s Junior Volleyball Championship when they face strong China in their Group C opener in Taiwan on Sunday (today).

Pakistan were scheduled to face Japan in their opener on Saturday but the Green-shirts’ delayed arrival in Taiwan due to flight cancellation forced the organisers to reschedule their engagement in the continental event.

Pakistan had to move from Lahore to Taiwan on July 6 but they delayed their departure for a day because their flight from Bangkok to Taiwan had been cancelled due to tropical storm in Taiwan.

‘The News’ learnt that because of the weather problem, the flights of several other participating nations were also disturbed which prompted the organisers to make changes in the schedule.

As per the revised dates, Pakistan would face Iraq in their second outing on Monday (tomorrow) and Japan on July 12.

Hosts Taiwan, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Myanmar are in Pool A, five-time champions Iran, Qatar, Turkmenistan and Hong Kong form Pool B, while the record six-time champions South Korea, Bahrain, Sri Lanka and Australia have been adjusted in Pool D.

Two top outfits from each pool will move into the quarter-finals league. The winners and runners-up of the championship will qualify for the World Junior Championship to be held next year. Pakistan once lifted bronze medal in the event and it was in 2008 in Iran when they broke the medal jinx under Iranian coach Ali Reza Moameri.

Meanwhile in Pool A outings on Saturday, Thailand defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 with the set scores of 25-20, 25-15, 25-15.

In the other game of the same group, Chinese Taipei overwhelmed Saudi Arabia 3-1 with 25-17, 25-20, 21-25, 25-18 set score.

In Pool B opener, Iran defeated Turkmenistan 3-0 with the set scores of 25-12, 25-22, 25-18. China, in Pool C, overpowered Iraq 3-0 with the score of 25-18, 25-14, 25-15.

In Pool D, South Korea defeated Bahrain 3-0 with the set score of 25-17, 25-23, 25-16. Sri Lanka beat Australia 3-0 with the set score of 25-23, 23-25, 19-25, 16-25.