logo
Pak storms into the final of Asian U16 Volleyball

Pak storms into the final of Asian U16 Volleyball

Express Tribune19-07-2025
Pakistan U-16 volleyball players in action against India in the Asian volleyball semifinal in Thailand on Friday. PHOTO: PVF
The Pakistan U-16 Men's Volleyball Team continued their extraordinary unbeaten run in the 2nd Asian Men's U16 Volleyball Championship 2025 in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand by delivering a stunning performance in the semi-final match against traditional rivals India, winning by 3-0 sets.
The highly anticipated match took place on Friday and saw Team Pakistan dominate with set scores of 25-16, 25-19, and 25-12, securing a comprehensive victory and punching their ticket to the final of the Championship.
The match showcased exceptional skills, discipline, and team coordination. Among the standout performers were Junaid, Faizan, Irfan, and Talha, who led the attack and defense with composure and determination throughout the game.
Pakistan's superior blocking and fast counter-attacks left the Indian team struggling to gain momentum. The result not only highlights Pakistan's potential at the youth level but also secures their position as one of Asia's strongest emerging volleyball nations.
Coach's Remarks
Speaking after the match, Head Coach Kafiyatullah said: "Today's match was not just a win over our arch-rivals India; it was a statement. Our players have shown incredible resilience, maturity, and teamwork throughout the tournament. I am immensely proud of each one of them. Beating India in such a convincing manner in the semi-final is a huge morale boost ahead of the final. We now shift our focus to the Final against Iran, which will be another tough battle, but the boys are ready."
Following semis victory, Pakistan will face a formidable opponent — Iran — on Saturday (today) in the final at 3:30pm Pakistan Standard Time.
The match is expected to be a thrilling contest between two of the strongest teams in the tournament.
Notably, Pakistan has already secured qualification for the FIVB U17 World Championship 2026, a historic milestone for the country's youth volleyball development.
The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) lauds the team's phenomenal effort, discipline, and growing international stature, and extends gratitude to all the fans, stakeholders, and sponsors supporting the team on this journey.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

PCB imposes ‘blanket ban' on future participation in WCL
PCB imposes ‘blanket ban' on future participation in WCL

Business Recorder

timea day ago

  • Business Recorder

PCB imposes ‘blanket ban' on future participation in WCL

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed a blanket ban on future participation of Pakistani players in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), citing political bias and discriminatory treatment during the recently concluded tournament. In an official statement, the PCB strongly criticized the organizers for barring Pakistani cricketers and allowing political considerations to influence the event's conduct, particularly highlighting the refusal of the Indian team to play its scheduled matches against Pakistan. Terming the WCL's apology for 'hurting sentiments' as 'farcical,' the PCB said it inadvertently confirmed that the decision to exclude Pakistani players was not based on cricketing merit but rather a concession to a specific nationalistic narrative. 'This bias, masquerading as sensitivity, sends an unacceptable message to the international sporting community,' the PCB stated. The board further warned that politically influenced and biased decisions compromise the integrity and neutrality of international sports. It noted that participation in such an environment would be against the dignity of Pakistani players and could pose risks for future events. The issue was discussed in detail during a virtual meeting of the PCB's Board of Governors (BoG), attended by Sumair Ahmed Syed, Salman Naseer, Zaheer Abbas, Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Sajjad Ali Khokhar, Zafarullah Jadgal, Tanveer Ahmed, Tariq Sarwar, Muhammad Ismail Qureshi, Anwaar Ahmad Khan, Adnan Malik, Usman Wahla (special invitee), and Mir Hassan Naqvi (Additional Secretary). During the Championship of Legends, the Indian team played only one match and refused to face Pakistan in both of their group-stage fixtures. Despite this, Pakistani players were sidelined, prompting strong backlash from the PCB. Bilateral cricket between Pakistan and India has remained frozen since 2008. The only brief resumption came in 2012, when Pakistan toured India for an ODI series led by Shahid Afridi, resulting in a series win for Pakistan. The PCB reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of the sport and pledged to raise its voice at all relevant forums against politically tainted decisions in international cricket.

PCB rejects Legends League boycott
PCB rejects Legends League boycott

Express Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Express Tribune

PCB rejects Legends League boycott

The proposal to boycott the Legends League final has been rejected. During the PCB Governing Board meeting, it was decided to uphold the policy of keeping politics out of sports. According to details, an emergency virtual meeting of the PCB Governing Board was held yesterday, attended by all members. The only agenda item was the World Championship of Legends. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi presided over the meeting via video call from the USA. Sources say that the participants unanimously decided that no one would be allowed to use the name "Pakistan" in future editions of the Legends League unless permitted by the board. Some members suggested boycotting the final match of the event, pointing out that both owners and sponsors are Indian, and in response to facing setbacks on the battlefield and within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), India has tried to politicise sports. The team refused to play both matches against "Pakistan Champions." After forfeiting the first match, they should not have been awarded any points, but the organisers gave them one point to help them reach the semi-finals. Since the name "Pakistan Champions" includes the country's name, members argued that Pakistan should have the final say in such matters. However, Zaheer Abbas and several other members advised against boycotting the final, saying that Pakistan has never politicised sports and should maintain that stance. All members gave Mohsin Naqvi the authority to make the final decision, expressing confidence in his leadership following the successful handling of the recent ACC meeting. Most members agreed that the team should play the final, but future decisions about this event will be made solely by the PCB Governing Board. The board members also congratulated Naqvi on the successful hosting of the ACC meeting, to which he responded by crediting teamwork for the achievement.

T20I series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE to begin later this month
T20I series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE to begin later this month

Business Recorder

time3 days ago

  • Business Recorder

T20I series featuring Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE to begin later this month

Pakistan will feature in a tri-series involving Afghanistan and UAE from August 29 to September 7 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, in the United Arab Emirates. The T20I tournament will serve as a launching pad for the teams to prepare for and acclimatise to the conditions ahead of the eight-team ACC Men's T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced in a press release. The opening match of the tri-series tournament will be played between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday, August 29, with the first ball to be bowled at 7pm local time, the PCB said. Asia Cup 2025 to be held from September 9-28 in UAE, Mohsin Naqvi confirm 'Each team will play the others twice, giving all sides at least four matches before the top two teams qualify for the final, scheduled on September 7,' it added. Tournament schedule (all matches at Sharjah Cricket Stadium): August 29 – Afghanistan v Pakistan – 7pm local time August 30 – UAE v Pakistan – 7pm local time September 1 – UAE v Afghanistan – 7pm local time September 2 – Pakistan v Afghanistan – 7pm local time September 4 – Pakistan v UAE – 7pm local time September 5 – Afghanistan v UAE – 7pm local time September 7 – Final – 7pm local time Indian team gets 'green light' to play against Pakistan in Asia Cup

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store