VOLLEYBALL – IRAN stayed on course for an impressive golden double last night in the volleyball competitions of the third Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.
The girls’ team battled past the Philippines 3-1 (26-28, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18) in a thrilling semi-final at a packed Hall B at Isa Sports City in Riffa, while the boys’ squad breezed past Thailand 3-0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-14) in their boys’ last-four encounter at Isa Sports City’s Hall C. The Iranian girls needed to dig deep to oust their Filipino opponents, who were boosted by a large crowd of supporters at the venue.
Outside hitter Rhose Viane Almendralejo helped the Philippines take the first set, scoring the frame’s final two points on successive attacks. But the Iranians replied with a strong second frame to tie the contest at a set apiece.
In the third, the two teams played to a 17-all deadlock, and following a service error by Filipino opposite Raine Gabrielle Alonzo, the Iranians took control, with opposite Laya Afzouni delivering a number of aces to help her team take the match advantage.
The Iran girls rode their momentum into the fourth set. They scored three unanswered points to extend their lead to 16-10, and they never wavered the rest of the way. A smash by outside hitter Ayda Valinezhad gave them match point, and then middle blocker Yalda Jafari Khoulenjani hit the winning spike, which the Filipinos could not receive.
Iran will now face off with Indonesia in the girls’ gold medal game, scheduled for tomorrow at 5pm. The Indonesians claimed a hard-earned 3-0 (26-24, 27-25, 25-17) win against Thailand in the other semis contest yesterday.
Iran’s boys, meanwhile, will take on Pakistan in their gold medal affair, also set for 5pm tomorrow. The Pakistanis fought back from a set down to edge Indonesia 3-1 (22-25, 25-13, 25-19, 26-24) in their tight semi-final last night.
In fifth-to-eighth classification games yesterday, Chinese Taipei beat Hong Kong 3-1 (27-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20) in the girls’ bracket, where China were also winners, routing Qatar 3-0 (25-5, 25-5, 25-5).
Amongst the boys, Mongolia defeated Saudi Arabia 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 15-8) and Uzbekistan won against China 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 16-25, 25-15). Tomorrow’s action will mark the concluding day of volleyball competitions in this year’s Asian Youth Games.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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