Pakistan Advances to Asian U16 Volleyball Championship Semi-Finals

NAKHON PATHOM: Pakistan continued their impressive performance at the Asian Under-16 Volleyball Championship, securing a 3-1 victory against Iran. This win marks their fifth consecutive triumph in the competition.

The intense match spanned over two hours, with Pakistan winning the sets 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, and 31-29. Notably, this was the first set Pakistan conceded in the entire championship, having previously won all their matches in straight sets.

Key players contributing to the victory against Iran included Faizanullah, Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Junaid, and Saran Baig. Faizanullah was the top scorer with 22 points, comprising 20 attack points, while Irfan added 16 points to the team’s score.

With this result, Pakistan finished at the top of Group F in the crossover round, carrying forward points from their earlier victory against South Korea in the first round.

The Green Shirts have now earned a place in the tournament’s semi-finals, where they are set to compete against either India or Japan.

Pakistan initiated their campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over South Korea, winning the sets 25-16, 25-19, and 25-8.

In their second match of the group stage, Pakistan comfortably defeated Saudi Arabia 3-0, with set scores of 25-14, 25-13, and 25-11. Their unity and assurance were evident throughout the stage.

Pakistan concluded the group stage with another straight-sets victory against Chinese Taipei, winning the match 26-24, 25-14, and 25-16.

The match against Chinese Taipei, held in Nakhon Pathom, lasted one hour and 17 minutes and showcased noteworthy performances from Faizanullah, Talha Maher, and Muhammad Junaid.

Maintaining their winning streak, Pakistan achieved a 3-0 victory against Indonesia in the first crossover round, staging a recovery in the opening set after being down 3-12.

They won the sets 25-23, 25-20, and 25-20. Junaid led the scoring with 15 points, including 10 from attacks, while Faizanullah contributed 11 points.

The Asian Volleyball Confederation is organizing the tournament, which is taking place in Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi in Thailand. Sixteen teams are participating, divided into four pools.

Notably, the top four teams from this championship will directly qualify for the expanded 24-team FIVB U17 World Championship in 2026, a significant increase from the previous 16-team format.

The semi-finals and final of the Asian U16 Championship are scheduled for July 19, where the champions of the continent will be determined.