LAHORE: Pakistan’s U-18 volleyball team emerged victorious in the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) men’s Volleyball Championship, defeating Iran 3-1 in the final in Uzbekistan, according to the Pakistan Volleyball Federation.

The Pakistani team displayed remarkable resilience, bouncing back after losing the first set (20-25) to win the next three sets consecutively (25-18, 25-23, 27-25).

Key players Mohammad Yahya, Talal Ahmed and Khizar Hayat played a crucial role in securing this win, showcasing their exceptional skills and determination throughout the match.

The outstanding performances earned individual accolades, with Talal named best setter, Yahya awarded best opposite hitter and most valuable player (MVP) while Jibran recognised as the best middle blocker.

This victory ensured Pakistan Under-18 team qualified for the 15th Asian men’s Under-20 Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place in Bahrain from July 28 to Aug 4.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2024