LAHORE: Australia after a close fight beat Pakistan 3-2 in the Asian Volleyball Championship quarter-final.

According to the information shared by the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) here on Thursday, Pakistan will now compete for 5-8 places in the next round at the championship being staged in Tehran.

Pakistan had made a flying start, winning the first two sets but then they lost the remaining three on the trot to lose the match 23-21, 23-21, 18-25, 14-25, 13-15.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Volleyball Federation chairman Chaudhry Moham­mad Yaqoob said though the team played well throughout the championships, it was bad luck that Pakistan lost the match to Australia, one of the top teams in Asia. He said Iran, Japan and Australia have qualified for the World League from Asia, but Pakistan gave them tough time.

Yaqoob, however, said the ultimate analysis would tell that the team still needs to have confidence to win big matches.

“This required more international matches but shortage of funds is a great hindrance in the way, as PVF received mere Rs3 million from the PSB, and this participation has cost the Federation around Rs5 million. The PVF has yet to pay for the tickets,” Yaqoob said in a statement.

“The contract with Korean coach Kim, who has done a great job is now ending, as the PVF does not have the money to pay him any more. This coach could do wonders for Pakistan at this year’s South Asian Games being held in December,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2019