Hossein Golestani spearheaded Iran’s dominant 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-18) win over Ukraine at the Paris 2024 men’s sitting volleyball competition at the North Paris Arena on Friday.
Golestani led all scorers with 13 points, with strong support from Meisam Ali Pour, Davoud Alipourian, and Mahdi Babadi, each contributing 11 points. Ukraine’s Denys Bytchenko managed 10 points but was unable to lift his team to a competitive level against the overwhelming Iranian side.
Iran stamped their authority on the match from the very beginning. The first set saw Golestani setting the tone with an array of powerful attacks, followed by a series of blistering serves from Ali Pour that left Ukraine’s defence scrambling. Ali Pour’s serve, clocking at 74 km/h, forced reception errors from Bytchenko and Oleksii Kharlamov, contributing to Iran’s rapidly growing lead.
Despite a notable block from Maksym Petrenchuk, Ukraine struggled to keep up with the pace set by Iran. As the set progressed, Golestani and Babadi continued to exploit gaps in Ukraine’s defence, culminating in a comprehensive 25-13 win for Iran.
The second set saw more of the same, with Iran maintaining their grip on the match. Early attempts by Bytchenko to rally his team were undone by a critical attack error, allowing Iran to extend their dominance. Iran capitalised on Ukraine’s mistakes, with Babadi and Alipourian leading the charge.
Bytchenko managed to score for Ukraine, but Iran’s momentum was unshakeable. Ali Pour’s serve remained a potent weapon, and Babadi’s defensive efforts, including a key block, reinforced Iran’s control. The set ended in another decisive 25-12 win for Iran, who were now firmly in the driver’s seat.
In the third set, Ukraine showed more resolve, keeping the score closer in the early exchanges. Bytchenko played a leading role for Ukraine, delivering crucial points that kept them in contention. However, Iran’s depth and consistency ultimately proved too much for their opponents.
The set featured a more balanced contest, with both sides trading points. Abbasifeshki’s effective serving disrupted Ukraine’s rhythm, while Golestani continued to find ways through the Ukrainian defence. Despite spirited efforts from Drapak and Petrenchuk, Iran maintained their composure to close out the set 25-18, completing a clean sweep in the match.
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