Kazakhstan swept France with a 3-0 (25-7, 25-20, 25-7) triumph on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games males’s sitting volleyball competitors on Thursday at North Paris Area.
Erik Kaskabayev led the cost for Kazakhstan with 14 factors, together with eight assault factors, a block, and 5 service winners. For France, Damien Roget contributed eight factors in a tricky match for the hosts.
Kazakhstan opened the set with an early lead, on account of Perdebay Namuratov’s aggressive assaults and Kaskabayev’s highly effective serves. France struggled to reply, with a number of reception errors from Morgan Troussard and Thibaud Lefrancois contributing to their rising deficit. Kazakhstan capitalised on these errors, with Zhangali Suieuov including a vital block that prolonged their benefit to 23-6.
Regardless of a short rally the place Jean-Christophe Rambeau managed to attain with a well-placed assault, Kazakhstan shortly regained management. Suieuov continued to serve successfully, forcing extra errors from the French aspect. A ultimate serve from Berik Izmaganbetov, mixed with a reception error from Cyrille Chahboune, secured the set for Kazakhstan at 25-7.
Kazakhstan began the second set with a burst of vitality, making use of strain on France by way of exact assaults and robust serves. Kaskabayev led the cost, supported by Yerbolat Altayev, whose aggressive serves started to disrupt France’s defence early on. France managed to maintain tempo initially, with Roget scoring a vital block level, however Kazakhstan’s relentless assault quickly started to put on them down.
Because the set progressed, Kazakhstan capitalised on France’s errors, extending their lead. Regardless of a spirited effort from France, highlighted by Romain Wolniewicz’s assaults, Kazakhstan remained in management. The set reached its climax as Kaskabayev’s highly effective spike, adopted by Altayev’s ace, sealed Kazakhstan’s victory at 25-20.
Within the third set, Kazakhstan continued their commanding efficiency, shortly pulling forward of France with a mixture of robust serves and aggressive assaults. Altayev’s exact serves precipitated vital hassle for France’s reception, permitting Kazakhstan to steadily construct their lead. Regardless of France’s makes an attempt to regroup with substitutions, together with the introduction of Thomas Laronce, the crew struggled to seek out any rhythm in opposition to Kazakhstan’s relentless strain.
Kazakhstan’s superior execution was evident, with Bauyrzhan Sartayev and Altayev persistently discovering gaps in France’s defence. France’s errors compounded their issues, and Kazakhstan capitalised on each mistake. The set concluded emphatically with a robust assault from Sartayev, sealing the victory at 25-7.
Photograph: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.