Manama, Bahrain, July 29, 2024 – Defending champions Japan, China, Chinese Taipei, Iran, Thailand and Pakistan made it two in succession in their pools to secure Top 8 berths in the 15th Asian Men’s U18 Volleyball Championship at Isa Sport City Hall C on Monday.
The Japanese posted a three-set sweep of Saudi Arabia in Pool B. Joining them in the top-tier competition’s next stage are Chinese Taipei from the same group, Thailand from Pool A, Iran and China from Pool C and Pakistan from Pool D – all of them emerged triumphant on Monday. The remaining two slots in the Top 8 round could also be expected from Australia, Hong Kong China and Bahrain in Pool A and Korea and India from Pool D.
The Elite Eight will be completed on Tuesday when the pool round-robin preliminaries will come to a conclusion. Eight matches are once again scheduled for the two competition arenas at Isa Sports City, located on the outskirts of the capital city of Manama.
On Monday, Japan had a dominant showing in their exceptional 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-14) triumph against Saudi Arabia. Three players finished in double figures for the Japanese, led by Rei Iwata with 11 points. Karen Masajedi and Sawa Maeda each contributed 10 in the win. Gasem Altwal and Saeed Mukhtar top scored for the Saudi Arabians with 8 points apiece.
Japan are now set to face off against Chinese Taipei on Tuesday for Pool B supremacy.
Chinese Taipei had a more difficult outing but did enough to oust Kazakhstan 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-25, 15-11). In the tie-break, after a 7-all deadlock, Cheng Hsin-Yueh gave them the lead for good and pulled away. Hu Jun-Xiang paced Chinese Taipei with 21 points, while Nurassyl Mukhtar and Vladislav Mastikhin each scored 19 for the Kazakhs.
In Pool C, Iran powered to a 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 27-25) decision against the Philippines on Monday, led by Noureyni Amir Naderi and Amirmohammad Rafieirad, who finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Luke Anton Carl Macatangay was the top scorer for the Filipinos with 14.
China outclassed Lebanon 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-21) in another strong showing. Yu Xiang had 15 points and Li Xuyang contributed 14 in their victory. Serge Chehab was the best for Lebanon with 11 points.
Iran and China lock horns Tuesday for the right to claim first place in Pool C, while in Pool A, Australia, Hong Kong China and Bahrain remained in the hunt for a place in the top eight.
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