KARACHI – Pakistan won a bronze medal at the Asian Under-18 Volleyball Championship.
The match was played in Bahrain.
In a thrilling clash, Pakistan defeated defending champions Japan with a 3-0 victory in the third-place match.
From the outset, Pakistan dominated the game against the three-time defending champions as it won in straight sets with scores of 25-13, 25-21, and 25-17.
The achievement not only earned Pakistan a spot among the top four teams but also qualified them for the World Under-19 Volleyball Championship next year.
This bronze medal marks Pakistan’s first in any age group at the Asian Volleyball Championship since 2008 when they defeated India to claim third place in the Asian Under-20 Championship.
In the semi-final match held on Saturday, Pakistan faced China and lost with a final score of 3-2. The set scores were 23-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, and 8-15.
Each set was intensely competitive, with both teams showing determination and skill.
China took the first set narrowly with a 23-25 score but Pakistan responded with a 25-22 win in the second set. The third set saw China win 22-25, followed by Pakistan’s 25-23 victory in the fourth set, pushing the match to a decisive fifth set.
Ultimately, China prevailed in the final set, winning 15-8 and securing their place in the championship final.
Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) expressed their delight over the U18 team’s success.
They highlighted that their performance indicated a promising future for volleyball in the country.