Hangzhou, China, September 24, 2023 – Japan pulled off convincing win against India to maintain their remarkable unbeaten streak and Qatar survived a scare from Pakistan in their Top 6 encounters of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Men’s Volleyball Competition to next battle it out with respective China and Iran in the Monday’s do-or-die semifinals at Linping Sports Center Gymnasium.
Formidable Japan stormed past India 3-0 to become the only team not dropping a set to their respective opponents in the continent multi-sports extravaganza. The Sunday’s exceptional win also assisted Japan to move on to the semifinals, where they will clash hosts and last year’s AVC Cup champions China on Monday. Qatar also made their mark on Sunday to overpower Pakistan 3-1 to go up against defending and consecutive two-time champions Iran in the other semifinal encounter.
In an exciting clash of Top 6 at China Textile City Sports Center Gymnasium on Sunday, Japan, current world No.5, Asian champions and bronze medallists at this year’s VNL but fielding second-string squad in the Hangzhou Asian Games, managed a 25-16, 25-18, 25-17 shutout of India.
Opposite spiker Keihan Takahashi scored a match-high 21 points from 18 kills and team-leading 3 aces for Japan, while outside hitters Masahiro Yanagida and Kenta Takanashi added another 14 and 10 points respectively. Although India put on a gallant fightback, the Japanese blunted the opponents’ determined challenge with their spectacular attacks, splendid combinations and impeccable defence, limiting the India’s offense to the point that no Indian player got to reach double digits in scoring against them. Outside hitter Erin Varghese scored 8 points in the India’s bitter loss.
The Japan’s dominance in this comfortable affair was also visible in the match stats as the winners dominated in attacks (47 to 25) and aces (6 to 4), besides benefitting from more opponent errors (19 to 17). India got the most blocks, prevailing in that category by 5 to 3.
In the other Top 6 clash on Sunday, Qatar, current world No.17 and silver medallists at the 2023 FIVB Challenger Cup on home soil, struggled to beat well-established Pakistan, under the guidance of Brazilian coach Issanaye Ramires Ferraz, in a closely-contested four-setter 26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18.
Outside hitters Raimi Wadidie and Youssef Oughlaf joined forces in handing Qatar 16 points apiece on the team’s dramatic victory, while Murad Khan was the most…
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