Iran
Iran still relied on their similar strong line-up including Mahammadreza Soleymani, Alireza Jadidi and Ali Sajjadi, while India fielded well-established players led by Gurinder Singh and S. Prabagaran.
Iran got off to a great start in the first set to lead all the ways, but India improved their teamwork and utilized effective blocking from S.Prabagaran and R. Vaishnav to catch them at 21-21 and again 23-23.
Iranians Peyman Karimi and Alireaz Mobasheri read the game well to effectively block Gurinder Singh for the Iran’s crucial 24-23 lead. Mahammadreza Soleymani attacked the Indian blocking with his devastating spike at the post to end the rivals’ challenge in the first set 25-23.
The second set turned a lop-sided battle when Iran played an impeccable defence, allowing the Indians tough times scoring. Taking a commanding 15-7 lead, Iran stormed on their mighty attacks to win the comfortable set 25-13.
India issued a strong threat in the third set, making the on-going battle more exciting. They played every part of the game well, foiling the Iran’s determined scoring attempts and the tough get going. Though Iran maintained their poise to produce the goods, they could not lead the rivals with more than a one-point margin throughout the set.
At the end of the hotly-contested battle, where Iran and India were locked in a tight contest to tie 23-23, the Iranians proved class above their opponents to win two straight points, the set 25-23 and the encounter.
Mahammadreza Soleymani scored the highest 13 points for Iran, while Gurinder Singha remained the India’s top scorer with 10 points in this match.
The win allowed the mighty Iran three times in succession in the final showdown of the AVC Cup for Men. They were crowned the eventual champions in 2008 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand after beating Korea in the final. They repeated the similar feat in 2010 after brushing off China in the showdown in front of their home crowd in Urmia.
