ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) all scored straightforward victories on the opening day of the National Men’s Volleyball Championship at the POF Sports Complex in Wah Cantt on Monday.

Navy humbled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 3-0 with a scoreline of 25-21, 25-16, 25-10 while POF trounced Pakistan Youth 25-19, 25-17, 25-22 and PAF outclassed Punjab 25-12, 25-13, 25-13.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gave tough resistance to their experienced opponents in the first game which they lost by four points. However, they lost will and enthusiasm to fight back and lost the next two sets by big margins.

The regional side particularly lost their interest in the third set which they lost by 15 points.

Khalid and Abubakr smashed brilliantly for Navy. Particularly, Abuzar performed extraordinary and earned many valuable points for his team. In the third game Zeeshan’s smashes in the gaps enabled to tame Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan Youth XI demonstrated their brilliance against the hosts POF as they fought well in the first set and also showed some glimpses of the training they received from their Iranian coach.

After losing first two sets the youngsters almost won the third set at 21-19 but eventually lost by three points.

PAF, meanwhile, humbled Punjab easily. Punjabi virtually had no answer to powerful smashes of PAF captain Binyamin and effective blocking of Fayyaz.

Earlier, the championship began in a graceful ceremony during which school girls displayed wonderful tableau on the beat of drum before a jam-packed crowd.

POF board member Abdul Aziz Shaikh was the chief guest at the inauguration.

Tuesday’s fixtures: Pakistan Juniors vs Pakistan Board, Railways vs Police, Balochistan vs POF, Sindh vs Wapda.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2017