CHINESE TAIPEI CLAIM TOUGH FIVE-SETTER AGAINST KAZAKHSTAN IN ASIAN MEN’S U18 CHAMPIONSHIP IN BAHRAIN

Manama, Bahrain, July 29, 2024 – Chinese Taipei made it two in a row in Pool B after battling past Kazakhstan 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-25, 15-11) in the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship at Isa Sport City Hall C here on Monday.

After conceding the opening set, Chinese Taipei eked out the second and maintained their impressive form in the third to take control of the match. But Kazakhstan didn’t go down without a fight, and managed to force a deciding frame.

There, the two teams battled to a 7-all deadlock but then Chinese Taipei took command. Cheng Hsin-Yueh gave them the lead with a fine smash, and then their team began to pull away. Hu Jun-Xiang supplied the winning spike, closing out the contest and earning Chinese Taipei two crucial points in their bid for the Elite Eight.

Kazakhstan suffered their second successive loss but came away with an all-important point. Hu top scored for the winners with 21 points, while Cheng added 16 and Lu Cheng-Yuan had 11.

For the Kazakhs, Nurassyl Mukhtar and Vladislav Mastikhin each scored 19, while Rustam Bugayev finished with 15.

After the match, Cheng said that he enjoyed playing in a tough match against Kazakhstan. He added that his team are looking forward to the tough challenge against Japan in their last Pool B game on Tuesday.

The confrontation was witnessed by the President of the Bahrain Volleyball Association, Head of Organizing Committee, Sheikh Ali bin Mohammed Ali Al Khalifa, the Ambassador of Chinese Taipei to the Kingdom, Bob Jin, and members of the Federation’s Board of Directors.

China record two wins on the trot

At the second hall China outclassed Lebanon 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-21) to post their second straight Pool C victory on Monday and take one step closer to ensuring their place in the Elite Eight of the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship.

The Chinese dominated the contest behind the impressive play of outside hitter Yu Xiang and opposite Li Xuyang. They finished as the team’s leading scorers with 15 and 14 points, respectively.