On the second day of the 22nd Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship, Japan, Iran, and Qatar showcased their prowess with emphatic victories.
At Al-Ghadir Hall 1 on Sunday, Qatar demonstrated superiority over Afghanistan, clinching a straight-set win with scores of 25-19, 25-16, 25-19 in their Pool E match. This comes after their impressive 3-0 victory against India just a day prior. Qatar’s Papemaguette Diagne and Ribeiro Renan contributed 11 and 9 points respectively. Mohammad Sabawoon Wardak was the standout for Afghanistan, notching up 10 points. The win guarantees Qatar a place in the subsequent round of the tournament.
Over in Pool B, Japan, currently ranked fifth in the world, secured a convincing 3-0 win against Uzbekistan, tallying scores of 25-8, 25-19, and 25-13. Kento Miyaura was the star player for Japan, adding 15 points with 12 successful attacks out of 21 attempts. Masato Kai also chipped in with 12 points for the Japanese side. Uzbekistan’s Khosinov Bunyodbek managed 7 points in their defeat. After back-to-back victories, Japan has solidified their top position in Pool B, earning 6 points. Uzbekistan’s next challenge will be against Thailand on Monday.
Meanwhile, in another commanding display, Iran bested Hong Kong with set scores of 25-14, 25-15, and 25-16. They will now gear up to face Iraq in Pool A on Monday.
Asian Championship, taking place from August 19 to 26, is hosted in Urmia, Iran. Japan, having secured nine titles previously, enters as the favorites for the 2023 edition. Both South Korea and Iran have clinched the trophy four times in the past.
Results, August 20, 2023
