ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday defeated Iran 3-1 to win the Central Asian Volleyball Championship which took place in the country’s northeastern city of Lahore.
The competition, in which Pakistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan participated, was arranged in Pakistan after a hiatus of 17 years.
Pakistan won the first two sets of the game by 16-25 and 17-25, respectively, while Iran won the third set 25-23. It was, however, the fourth set that sealed the victory for the hosts by 20-25.
Following the win, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the team and acknowledge their hard work.
“Congratulations to Pakistan Men’s Volleyball Team for winning Central Asian Volleyball Championship. It is a testament to our players’ grit, determination, and hard work in reviving Pakistan’s glory in the arena of sports,” the premier tweeted.
As of July 2022, Pakistan’s national volleyball team stood at number 39 in the global ranking, according to the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). Iran, consecutive two-time Asian and Asian Games champions, are currently the world’s number 8.
The Pakistan Volleyball Federation, the body responsible for regulating the sport in the South Asian nation, was founded in 1955. Shortly after its inception, the federation received recognition and was affiliated with the Pakistan Olympic Association and the International Volleyball Federation.
