ISLAMABAD, June 1: Habib Bank and Iranian side Saipa scored victories on Wednesday at the start of the Asian Men’s Club volleyball championship at the Liaquat Gymnasium. Habib Bank found the going easy in the second match of the day against Uzbekistan’s Uzi Samarkand registering a 25-18, 25-20, 25-18 win after the formal inauguration of the weeklong championship by Federal Minister for Sports M Ajmal Khan.

Saipa were extended to four sets by China’s Shanghai in the opening game before carving out a 23-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21 victory.

The bankers quickly swept ahead and fine play by captain Irfan Nawaz, libro Tariq Waseem and Sajid Nawaz helped them seal the set that comprised some exciting rallies.

The home team then maintained their ascendancy in the second set in which the visitors made a gallant effort but all in vain.

With pressure on them mounting, Uzbekistan through good play by captain Khamidullaev Ruslan and Rabalkin Alaxender made another bid to extend the match, however the bankers were just too good.

Having made a perfect start to the championship that features seven clubs, Habib Bank now take on Saipa on Thursday when two other matches will see Thailand playing Uzi Samarkand and Kazakhstan’s Rahat facing India’s Haryana State Industrial Corporation.

The Indians were finally to arrive in Lahore on Wednesday evening from where they were to continue their onward journey to Islamabad.

Because of their late arrival, the organisers had to reschedule the matches. India were originally scheduled to play Thailand on Wednesday.

Results: Saipa (Iran) bt Shanghai (China) 23-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21; Habib Bank bt Uzi Samarkand (Uzbekistan) 25-18, 25-20, 25-18.

Fixtures for Thursday:

Thailand v Uzi Samarkand (Uzbekistan) at 12.00pm, Rahat (Kazakhstan) v Haryana States Industrial Corporation (India) at 2.00pm, Habib Bank (Pakistan) v Siapa (Iran).