NAKHON PATHOM, Thailand: Pakistan’s Under-16 volleyball team delivered a commanding performance at the Asian U-16 Volleyball Championship, defeating defending champions Iran 3-1 to reach the semifinals of the tournament.
The match, played on Thursday in Nakhon Pathom, marked Pakistan’s fifth consecutive win and emerged as one of the tournament’s top contenders.
Pakistan won the match with set scores of 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, and 31-29. It was the first time Pakistan dropped a set in the championship, having swept their previous four matches.
The final set proved to be a nail-biter, with both sides battling point-for-point and the score tied five times at match point before Pakistan held their nerve to close out the game.
The match lasted more than two hours and was filled with tension, skill, and remarkable endurance.
Star player Faizanullah led the scoring with 23 points, including 21 from attack plays. He was ably supported by Muhammad Irfan, who added 16 points.
Key contributions also came from Muhammad Junaid and Saran Baig, who were instrumental in both defence and attack.
Statistically, Pakistan outperformed Iran in several key areas, leading 51-44 in attack points and 15-11 in block points.
Iran held a slight advantage in service points, but it was not enough to counter Pakistan’s overall dominance.
The victory over Iran came in the crossover round of Group F. Pakistan had already beaten Indonesia 3-0 earlier in the round, with set scores of 25-23, 25-20, and 25-20.
In that match, Junaid led with 15 points while Faizanullah contributed 11. These consecutive wins placed Pakistan at the top of Group F, aided by carried-forward points from their earlier group-stage win over South Korea.
Pakistan’s campaign began with a strong start, defeating South Korea 3-0 with set scores of 25-16, 25-19, and 25-8.
They continued their momentum by overpowering Saudi Arabia 25-14, 25-13, and 25-11, followed by a straight-sets win over Chinese Taipei, 26-24, 25-14, and 25-16.
With this latest win, Pakistan has officially secured a place in the final four and qualified for the 2026 FIVB U-17 World Championship, a prestigious event that has expanded from 16 to 24 teams.
The upcoming semifinals, scheduled for 19 July, will see Pakistan take on either India or Japan, both of whom are known for their speed and tactical discipline.
Organised by the Asian Volleyball Confederation, the tournament is being held in the Thai cities of Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi, featuring 16 national teams divided into four pools.
