KARACHI: Pakistan is among the top three teams that have qualified to feature in 2016 Rio Olympic qualifiers beach volleyball competition later this year. India and Maldives are the other two nations.

This was stated by international Mubashir Raza, who helped Pakistan secure silver medal at the Asian Volleyball Confederation Inter-continental Cup on return from Maldives on Saturday.

Mubashir, who was declared Best Player of the Cup, said six countries — Pakistan, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Maldives — featured in the event. Every nation was allowed to field two teams comprising two players apiece.

The pair of Mubashir and Mohammad Razzaq, both from Pakistan Navy, formed Pakistan ‘A’ team while Riaz Khan and Mohammad Ismail from the PAF constituted ‘B’ team.

According to results, Pakistan whipped Nepal 2-0 in group A opener and suffered 0-2 loss at the hands of India in the next to finish second in the pool and qualify for semi-final where they brushed aside host and favourite Maldives straight 2-0 to make final.

Pakistan ‘A’ opened the final against India on impressive note taking 1-0 lead in the best of three clash but the latter drew level (1-1) when their ‘B’ team defeated Pakistan’s second string. India ‘A,’ however, won the decisive golden match to earn gold.

“It’s an honour for Pakistan to qualify for the final Olympic qualifiers,” Mubashir told Dawn at a reception hosted by acting president of the Sindh Volleyball Association and manager sports KPT, Shah Naeem Zafar.

Mubashir expressed optimism that Pakistan will go all out to win the final qualifiers and earn a ticket for Rio Olympics first time ever.

Team manager Sardar Mohammad Khan, who hails from Quetta, was all praise for Pakistan team.

He applauded the gesture shown by Maldives people for Pakistan in the final and their hospitality.

The reception was attended among others by veteran Noor-ul-Hasan, who has distinction of earning double colour in volleyball and athletics, Sindh Olympic Association secretary Ahmed Ali, and Sindh Volleyball Association officials Shahd Masood and Furqan Hussain.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2015

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