ISLAMABAD: Reigning champion Wapda will face Navy in the final of National Men’s Volleyball Championship at POF Sports Complex Wah Cantt.

On Saturday, both teams moved into the final after wining their semi-final clashes.

Defending champion Wapda defeated Army 3-0 (25- 13, 25-18, 25-21) while Navy beat PAF 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-23, 32-30, 15-9) in the second semi-final.

The first semi-final was a clash between two arch rivals in national sports- Wapda and Army, which was full of entertainment, particularly in the last two games.

Both teams used their true potential to tame each other. Wapda succeeded to unnerve soldiers minutes after the first game started. International Munir Khan stunned them to get seven points in a row with his strong and accurate serves. The soldiers couldn’t recover from that early loss and easily succumbed the game at 13-25.

International Muneer Ahmed, Mubarak Jehan and Idrees took command of the second game after Wapda was trailing at 6-9. The libro provided them ample time to smash hard in the gaps. Army’s Farooq Haider, Rashid and Zahid did help Army to get some precious points to salvage their first game wounds but Wapda maintained a reasonable lead through excellent serves and smashes of Naseer, Mohib Rasool and Aimal Khan.

Army’s Haider smashed ferociously to take the lead in the third game which they maintained till 16-14, But Mubarak smashed intelligently and blocked brilliantly to even the points and then it was left for Naseer and Idrees to take hold of the game and finish it at 25-21.

The second semi-final was full of drama and thrill as both teams engaged in long rallies which amused the spectators who cheered the players engaged in long rallies to earn points. Navy trailing at 2-0 bounced back ferociously to win the next three games convincingly. The sailors composed their nerves and forced the airmen to make mistakes. Fahad, Muhammad Sayyad of the PAF failed to earn points amid their faulty smashes and serves. Particularly, they committed suicidal mistakes in the fifth game and lost their points through wrong serves. Dawood, and Shiraz tried hard to lift the moral of their teammates through excellent smashing and effective blocking. But the sailors frustrated their attacks trough their strong defence. In the end, two forceful and unstoppable smashes by Abuzar ended the match in the last game.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2017