ISLAMABAD, June 2: Pakistan’s Habib Bank suffered defeat on the second day of the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship at the Liaquat Gymnasium on Thursday going down to Iranian side Saipa. The Iranians playing to a plan notched up an exciting 25-22, 25-21, 26-24 victory which was their second in two days of competition in this championship that features seven club sides.

India’s Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) team that arrived in Islamabad late on Wednesday night, could not impress much and were beaten by Kazakhstan club Rahat 25-14, 25- 17, 25-14 in what was the first match for both sides.

In the day’s opening match, Uzbekistan’s Uzi Samarkand registered their maiden win edging Thai club Samsom in a hard-fought encounter 20-25, 25-23, 27-25, 26-24.

Pakistan put up a good fight, especially in the third set and almost took the match into a fourth after losing the opening two sets. But crucial mistakes at the fag end proved costly for them.

Saeed Mostafavand and Muhammad Kazem played a key role in Saipa victory as did Hamid H. Jafari and Mehdi Mahdav. The Iranians played intelligently and surprised the home team time and again with clever finishing.

Pakistan did make serious efforts to save the match through some good play by Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Naseer Ahmed and Kashif Mansoor but it was not to be their day.

The hosts, having one win and a loss, now take on China’s Shanghai on Friday which will also see Uzi Samarkand (Uzbekistan) up against Rahat (Kazakhstan) and Samsom (Thailand) facing Saipa (Iran).

The championship which is due to conclude next Wednesday is slowly gaining momentum and promises an exciting finish with the Indian side HSIDC drawn to play Habib Bank on the last day.

Results: Uzi Samarkand (Uzbekistan) bt Samsom (Thailand) 20-25, 25-23, 27-25, 26-24, Rahat (Kazakhstan) bt Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (India) 25-14, 25-17, 25-14, Saipa (Iran) bt Habib Bank (Pakistan) 25-22, 25-21, 26-24.