Pakistan U-19 Volleyball Team Secures 13th Place at World Championship

TASKHENT: Pakistan’s Under-19 volleyball squad concluded their inaugural World Championship journey impressively by defeating Uzbekistan, the host nation, in the 13th-place playoff held in Tashkent on Sunday.

On the tournament’s concluding day, Pakistan showcased dominance over Uzbekistan, securing a straight-set victory with scores of 25-18, 25-19, and 25-18.

The team demonstrated superiority in all aspects, including attacks, blocks, and service points, while maintaining a robust defense throughout the match.

Captain Yahya spearheaded the team’s efforts, contributing 14 points, with 12 coming from attacks, while Saud and Muhtad each added 10 points.

This marked Pakistan’s debut in the World U-19 Volleyball Championship, where the team made a noteworthy impression with its overall performance.

Having topped their group in the initial stage, Pakistan progressed to the knockout rounds.

However, contentious officiating during their match against Poland diminished their chances of reaching the quarterfinals.

Despite this setback, the Pakistan Volleyball Federation lauded the young team for surpassing expectations, recognizing their resilience and skill against some of the world’s top junior teams.

Notably, Pakistan secured 13th place in the World Under-19 Volleyball Championship by defeating the United States in the classification match on Saturday.

In the 13th to 16th position playoff, Pakistan delivered a commanding 3-1 victory against the USA.

The young Green Shirts commenced strongly, seizing the first set 25-14 through effective serves and sharp offensive plays.

Nevertheless, the USA retaliated in the second set, narrowly surpassing Pakistan 25-22 to even the score.

Determined to regain command, Pakistan rebounded in the third set with a convincing 25-18 win, displaying enhanced coordination and strong net blocking.

The fourth and final set evolved into a tense battle as the Americans strived to remain in contention, but Pakistan maintained composure to clinch the set 25-23, securing the 3-1 victory.

Yahya and Saud distinguished themselves as key performers for Pakistan, significantly contributing with powerful spikes and dependable defense.