Isa City, Bahrain, June 8, 2024 – Unbeaten Pakistan and mighty Qatar paved their paths for an electrifying ultimate showdown of the 2024 AVC Problem Cup for Males, with the previous gorgeous Korea and the latter powering previous Kazakhstan within the Saturday’s semifinals at Isa City Sport Metropolis Corridor C right here.
With their dramatic wins on Saturday, world No. 47 Pakistan and world No.21 Qatar will now battle it out for high honor and the lone berth on supply for the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in Linyi, China between July 4 and seven, which serves because the final qualification for the revamped VNL 2025, increasing to 18 groups.
On the penultimate day of the eight-day match, Pakistan, the one workforce which have but misplaced a match to their respective rivals, pulled off an upset 3-1 (25-22, 24-26, 25-22, 25-22) win in opposition to world No.28 Korea within the highly-anticipated semifinals.
Qatar, which went down 2-3 to Korea of their pool play, demolished world No.55 Kazakhstan 3-1 (25-16, 19-25, 25-19, 25-16) in one other semifinal conflict.
The opposite two playoff matches on Saturday noticed world No. 31 China end fifth place within the match after 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 26-28, 25-21) demolition of world No.54 Vietnam and world No.65 Bahrain upset world No.35 Australia in thrilling straight units 25-17, 25-22, 25-20 to finish their marketing campaign in seventh place.
The match of the day highlights might be witnessed within the conflict of the Titans between Pakistan and Korea. On the final 12 months’s rescheduled Hangzhou Asian Video games, Pakistan, coached by Brazilian Ramires Ferraz at the moment, beat Korea 3-0 within the Spherical of ultimate 12, and within the Bahrain-hosted AVC Problem Cup, Korea, with the Brazilian coach on the helm, succumbed to 1-3 defeat by the hands of the formidable Pakistanis.
In opposition to the bronze medallists on the earlier version final 12 months in Chinese language Taipei, Pakistan made a powerful begin within the opening set to steer with a six-point benefit at 17-11, however the Koreans clawed their approach again to return shut 21-23. Nonetheless, Pakistan nonetheless had sufficient left of their tank. Muhammad Hamad and Murad Khan efficiently blocked an off-speed assault from exterior hitter Kim Jihan to achieve the set level 24-21 and after that, allowed Korea yet another level from a service error of center blocker Musawer Khan to wrap up the thrilling set 25-22.
Pakistan, which early this month captured the CAVA Nations League title, gained the higher hand within the second set to steer 12-9, however the Koreans began to supply the products as they managed to stage it at 17-17 and once more 23-23. Pakistan went on blocking spree to advance 24-23, however Shin Hojin was the Korea’s comeback. The left-hander reverse attacked devastatingly to attain two factors in a row to avoid wasting the set level for Korea, superior 25-24. On his three successive try, Shin Hojin carried out an ace serve for the workforce’s comeback 26-24 win on this hard-fought set.
Within the third set, Pakistan began higher with constant play and resilience to pile up a 16-14 lead. The Koreans held their nerves and hit again to cut back the hole 17-21. To make brief work of the formidable rivals, Pakistan maintained a margin that diversified anyplace from one to 3 factors for some time with their offensive system and blocking effort making the distinction. They went on assaults to clinch the set 25-22, with reverse Afaq Khan delivering the set winner along with his sharp spike.
The fourth set was probably the most aggressive to this point, with each side buying and selling assaults. Leveling at 21-21, Korea grew to become inclined with unforced errors, permitting Pakistan scoring alternatives. After a spectacular rally, Abdul Zaheer fired an aggressive shot to deliver Pakistan to the match level 24-22. The Pakistani aspect earned one other level from the Korea’s internet fault to finish the rivals’ problem 25-22.
Murad Khan scored a match-high 25 factors from 22 kills, 2 blocks and one ace, whereas Murad Jehan and Musawer Khan contributed 12 factors apiece. Kim Jihan scored 20 factors together with 17 kills from 31 makes an attempt on the Korea’s loss.
In one other semifinal conflict earlier, debutants Qatar moved a step nearer to the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup following the pulsating 3-1 win in opposition to Kazakhstan.
Either side began with the same commonplace within the opening set to play neck and neck and stage it at 11-11. From then on, Qatar attacked 5 factors in a row resulting in 16-11 benefit. Qatar, silver medallists on the 2023 FIVB Challenger Cup on dwelling soil in Doha, continued their onslaughts, with Raimi Wadidie, Youssef Oughlaf and Renan Ribeiro unleashing highly effective assaults to steer the workforce to the set level 24-15. They allowed Kazakhstan just one extra level from exterior hitter and skipper Vitaliy Vorivodin’s lethal shot to take the comfy first set 25-16.
Conceding disappointing first set, Kazakhstan bounced again mightily within the second set, which they led from begin to end. Main by large margin 23-18, the Kazakhs superior 24-18, because of a well-placed service from Vladimir Prokofyev. His second service try, nevertheless, saved the day for Qatar. Nonetheless, the delight was short-lived as reverse Petr Churzin produced an aggressive assault which went with out returning. Kazakhstan clinched the second set 25-19.
The Qataris remained in exception type within the third set. They raced to an preliminary 11-7 lead and widened the margin to 20-14, courtesy of their spectacular sequence of highly effective assaults from Mohamed Ibrahim Ibrahim and environment friendly blocks by Borislav Georgiev and Ibrahim Ibrahim. Qatar sealed the set 25-19.
The fourth set began with intense battle which noticed Qatar take a slim 7-6 lead, however after that, the on-going contest turned out to be one-way site visitors. The Qataris stayed in management, with exterior hitter Renan Ribeiro firing a shot that introduced Qatar to the match level 24-14. Kazakhstan scored two successive factors earlier than Youssef hammered an off-the-block kill for the Qatar’s 25-16 win, match and a ultimate berth.
Mohamed Ibrahim Ibrahim delivered 18 factors from 14 kills, 3 blocks and one ace for Qatar, with Raimi Wadidie and Youssef Oughlaf including 13 and 12 factors respectively. Petr Churzin and Vitaliy Vorivodin scored 15 factors apiece on the Kazakhstan’s loss.
Within the playoffs earlier, China, silver medallists on the final 12 months’s Hangzhou Asian Video games on dwelling soil and a well-earned fourth place on the Asian Senior Championship in Urmia, Iran, took the fifth place following their four-set win in opposition to Vietnam, fourth place on the earlier version final 12 months in Chinese language Taipei.
China blended the offensive mixtures from Zhang Jingyin and Wang Jingyi with their spectacular assaults and strong blocks by Wang Hebin and substituted Li Yongzhen to clinch the primary two units 25-19 and 25-21.
Within the third set. Vietnam, with reverse Pham Van Hiep, exterior spiker Nguyen Ngoc Thuan and center blocker Tran Duy Tuyen strengthening the workforce on the fast transition, fought again exhausting to steer 16-13 and reached the set level 24-22. The ultimate stretch noticed each side give all of it out to win the set, however Truong The Khai solidly blocked Wang Jingyi to maneuver Vietnam forward 27-26 earlier than Zhang Jingyin spiked out large handy Vietnam the nail-biting 28-26 win.
Profitable one set from the Asian powerhouses, Vietnam boosted their confidence and nonetheless lived as much as expectations within the fourth set, which they led narrowly 16-15. China heightened their defence and went on their aggression, catching the Southeast Asian rivals 17-17 and cruised on till they first reached the match level 24-20.
A robust mid-court spike from Nguyen Ngoc Thuan earned one other essential level for Vietnam, however shortly after that, skipper Jiang Chuan hammered an off-the-block winner to finish the Vietnamese problem. China captured the set 25-21, match and the fifth place.
Wang Jingyi and Zhang Jingyin delivered 15 factors apiece for China, whereas Li Yongzhen added one other 13 factors. Pham Van Hiep scored a match-high 20 factors from 17 kills and three aces on the Vietnam’s loss.
Within the Seventh-Eighth place playoff conflict, hosts Bahrain confirmed their prowess to brush off Australia in straight units to complete Seventh place, a far cry from what they achieved on the earlier version final 12 months after they picked up silver.
Bahrain performed a near-flawless efficiency within the first set, with exterior spikers Alabbar Sayed and Ali Sayed Hashem on hearth on the frontline. Australia managed to combat again, however their makes an attempt have been in useless because the host aspect continued their profitable method to take the comfy set 25-17.
Bahrain raced to a 16-12 lead within the second set, however Australia narrowed the hole, with hard-hitting Ethan Garrett and left-hander Matthew Aubrey, 209cm, puncturing the hosts’ defence aside with their assaults. Nonetheless, Bahrain have been nonetheless driving the momentum as they reached the set level 24-21. The 205cm-tall setter Arshdeep Dosanjh saved the day for Australia as he swiftly set the ball over the web and it landed completely on the Vietnam’s area. Nonetheless, a service error from center blocker Nehemiah Mote handed Bahrain the 25-22 win.
The third set was an identical script as Bahrain stormed on to take the commanding 16-12 lead, prolonged it with a three-point clear at 22-19 and reached the match level 24-20. Australia requested the timeout to enhance on their recreation plan.
Nonetheless, their makes an attempt didn’t repay as Aubrey fired a strong assault, however by accident hit the antenna. Bahrain captured the set 25-20, match and the Seventh place.
On Sunday, the final day of the competitors, Pakistan will go up in opposition to Qatar within the ultimate showdown for gold medal, whereas Kazakhstan will face off in opposition to Korea within the bronze-medal match.
RESULTS AND RANKINGS
POOL 1-4
POOL 5-8
MATCH SCHEDULE
QUICK LINKS
AVC Web site: click on www.asianvolleyball.internet
AVC Fb: click on www.Fb.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click on: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball
AVC Instagram: click on: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
Mikasa Instagram: click on: https://www.instagram.com/mikasasports_official
AVC Youtube: click on: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation
The publish PAKISTAN, QATAR SET UP AVC CHALLENGE CUP FINAL TO FIGHT FOR LONE BERTH IN FIVB CHALLENGER CUP IN CHINA appeared first on Asian Volleyball Confederation.
