Pakistan go down against Iran

KARACHI: Pakistan’s pathetic run in the Asian Volleyball Championship continued as they tasted their second consecutive defeat, going down 0-3 against the last edition’s runners-up Iran in a gripping encounter in Surabaya, Indonesia, on Tuesday.

In the first two sets Pakistan gave tough time to the Iranians who are in top ten in the world rankings. However, in the third set the Green-shirts seemed to have surrendered as they lost it without much troubling Iran. The set scores were 25-23, 25-22, 25-14.

Pakistan had been routed by Chinese Taipei in their Group B opener on Monday.Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) chairman Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob said that the team played well against Iran. “The team played much better today. It still has a few weak areas but with persistent efforts things can be improved,” Yaqoob told ‘The News’.

“Coach Hamid has been with us for the last four months during which we had Ramadan in which tough training was not possible,” Yaqoob said.Pakistan face Iraq in their last pool outing on Wednesday (today). In the other Group B match on Tuesday, Chinese Taipei defeated Iraq 3-o.

In Group A, after losing to Kazakhstan 2-3 the other day, Qatar were able to record their first win when they whacked Saudi Arabia 3-0. In the same group, Kazakhstan overpowered Indonesia 3-2, their second win on the trot.

In Group C, South Korea registered their second victory when they crushed Sri Lanka 3-0, while defending champions Japan thrashed Vietnam 3-0, their second successive win.In Group D, Australia also recorded their second victory when they overcame Thailand 3-2 after a sweating affair. In the same group China defeated Hong Kong 3-0, their second successive win.