Green-shirts thrashed by China in volleyball

KARACHI: Pakistan made a disappointing start on Sunday when they went 0-3 down to China in their Group C opener of the 18th Asian Men’s Junior Volleyball Championship in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Pakistan, who won a bronze medal in 2008, failed to do much against the former three-time champions China who kept the Green-shirts under control right from the start.

After losing the first set 19-25, Pakistan performed even more poorly, going 11-25 down in the next set.

China, who had defeated Iraq 3-0 in their opener on Saturday, won the third set 18-25 to brighten their quarter-finals chances in the four-team group which include three-time former winners Japan.

Pakistan were scheduled to meet Japan in their opener but their engagement was rescheduled as the Green-shirts reached Taiwan late because of flight cancellation  due to tropical storm that emerged from China and hit Taiwan as well.

Pakistan will meet Iraq on Monday (today). They will face Japan in their last group game on Tuesday (tomorrow).

A senior official of Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) said that it was not a bad effort from Pakistan. “China are a strong side and it is okay. Our players will learn during the tour,” PVF chairman Chaudhry Yaqoob told ‘The News’.

He was hopeful that Pakistan would beat Iraq who lost to China after a close battle. “We can beat Iraq,” Yaqoob said.

In the other Group C outing, Japan overwhelmed Iraq 3-0 with the set scores of 25-21, 25-21, 25-17. It ended Iraq’s qualifying chances for the quarter-finals.

In Group D Sri Lanka defeated Bahrain 3-0.

Record six-time champions South Korea overwhelmed Australia 3-0 with the set scores of 23-25, 25-14, 25-23, 25-20.

Turkmenistan, in Group B, defeated Hong Kong 3-1.

Five-time winners Iran crushed Qatar 3-0 with the set scores of 25-16, 25-15, 25-11.

In a crunch Group A outing, Kazakhstan defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 with the set scores of 25-20, 23-25, 20-25, 25-22, 15-17.

Two teams from each group will make it to the quarter-finals who will be drawn in Group E and F. The remaining eight outfits will be adjusted in Group G and H where they will fight for earning places from ninth to 15th.