Duran dazzles, as Bosnia and Herzegovina buckles in five-set thriller against Kazakhstan Duran dazzles, as Bosnia and Herzegovina buckles in five-set thriller against Kazakhstan

Bosnia and Herzegovina edged out Kazakhstan with a 3-2 (26-24, 25-13, 14-25, 21-25, 15-8) win, anchored by Mirzet Duran’s remarkable performance in the gripping first five-set encounter at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games men’s sitting volleyball tournament in North Paris Arena on Saturday.

Duran was the star of the match, contributing 20 points, including 14 attacks and six blocks, as he helped his team secure a hard-fought win. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s win was built on their defensive strength, highlighted by 14 blocks, and their ability to minimize errors, with only 20 compared to Kazakhstan’s 42.

The match started with Bosnia and Herzegovina taking the first set in a closely contested battle. Duran’s early impact was significant, with his blocks and attacks playing a crucial role in securing the narrow victory. Both teams exchanged leads, but it was Bosnia and Herzegovina that capitalised on Kazakhstan’s errors to clinch the set 26-24.

Riding the momentum, Bosnia and Herzegovina dominated the second set. Kazakhstan struggled to keep up with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s aggressive play, as Duran continued to excel alongside his teammates. The Bosnian side’s defense was solid, and their attack was relentless, leading to a commanding 25-13 win, putting them up 2-0 and in a strong position to take the match.

However, Kazakhstan, led by Perdebay Namuratov, who would finish with a match-high 31 points, fought back fiercely in the third set. Kazakhstan’s offence came alive, and Bosnia and Herzegovina began to falter under the pressure. Despite Duran’s continued efforts, Kazakhstan overpowered Bosnia and Herzegovina with a decisive 25-14 win, cutting the lead to 2-1 and shifting the momentum in their favour.

The fourth set was a tense affair, with Kazakhstan building on their third-set success. Namuratov continued to lead the charge, while Bosnia and Herzegovina struggled to regain their earlier dominance. The set was marked by long rallies and high-intensity plays, but Kazakhstan managed to edge out Bosnia and Herzegovina 25-21, forcing a decisive fifth set and putting the pressure back on the Europeans.

In the final set, Bosnia and Herzegovina dug deep, showing a lot of resilience in their plays. Duran once again stepped up, providing key blocks and timely attacks. The Bosnian team built an early lead and maintained it, as Kazakhstan’s errors began to mount under the pressure. Bosnia and Herzegovina secured the set 15-8, completing their…