ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s under-19 volleyball team continued its extraordinary run at the FIVB World Under-19 Volleyball Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with a commanding straight-sets victory over Puerto Rico on Monday, winning 25-20, 25-20, 25-15.
The triumph marks Pakistan’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament, extending their unbeaten streak without dropping a single set.
Despite entering the match ranked 19th in the world—six spots below 13th-ranked Puerto Rico—the young Pakistani side showcased superior skill, discipline, and teamwork to dominate the contest from start to finish.
Pakistan’s offensive unit outshone Puerto Rico with 40 attack points, compared to their opponents’ 30, while also keeping unforced errors in check with just 13 faults. In contrast, Puerto Rico committed 17 errors in attack.
Team captain Yahya was once again at the heart of Pakistan’s success, delivering a stellar performance with 22 points—20 from spikes, one from a block, and one from a serve.
He received solid support from Ajmal and Saud, who added seven and six points respectively. Saud stood out on the defensive front, particularly with his blocking efforts.
Defensively, Pakistan excelled with 62 successful receptions and 54 digs, consistently blunting Puerto Rico’s attacking threats.
Their serving also proved effective, as they scored three direct points and forced 24 errors from the Puerto Rican side—highlighting their ability to pressure opponents even without direct aces.
The victory ensures Pakistan’s place in the tournament’s knockout stage and keeps them at the top of Pool A heading into their final group match against Argentina on Tuesday.
This latest win follows another dominant display on Saturday, when Pakistan cruised past Turkiye 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-19).
Saud was the star in that encounter with 16 points, while Yahya added 14 and Ajmal and Muhtad chipped in with seven and five points respectively.
The match saw Pakistan control every aspect, from attack points (42-34) to blocks (10-6) and digs (58).
Pakistan will look to carry this momentum forward when they take on Argentina in their final group stage fixture on Tuesday, aiming to complete the group phase unbeaten and build further confidence ahead of the round of 16.
