ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan national volleyball team’s journey to the Asian Games will start with its participation in the AVC Men Challenger in Chinese Taipei from July 8-15, the country’s governing body for the sport said Tuesday.

The national volleyball side will fly to Iran after the completion of the tournament to feature in the Asian Championship, which runs from August 18-26.

The tours will give Pakistan match practice ahead of the Asian Games — which are slated to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8, Pakistan Volleyball Federation chairman Choudhary Mohammad Yaqoob said.

The PVC chief added that the federation had set its aims for the national side to qualify for the 2028 Olympics, and that it has hired Brazilian coach Issanaye Ramires Ferraz to work with the team.

Yaqoob was speaking during a prize distribution ceremony, which was held to reward the Pakistan players for the side’s triumph in last year’s five-nation Central Asian Volleyball Championship held last year.

He said that the national under-16 team will also participate in the first U-16 Asian Championship — which will be played in Uzbekistan from July 22.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2023