Qatar caused many a fright to former three-time winners China before going down in five sets in a Pool F match at the Asian Volleyball Championships in Tehran on Tuesday. Former winners South Korea also came out of the Iran’s shadow and shocked the hosts in four sets to go to the top of the Pool E.
At the Azadi Indoor Hall, Qatar looked like reaching the top spot in the group as they got ahead 2-1 up with a stunning game. They were even ahead by 10-7 and 17-14 in the fourth set before the Chinese clawed their way back into the contest and went on to seal a relieving 3-2 win (17-25 25-16 17 25 25 19 15 10).
The triumph helped China finish Pool F as the leaders and in the Thursday’s quarter-finals, they will take on Thailand, who finished fourth in Pool E.
Qatar, after taking the second spot behind China in the group, are pitted against Chinese Taipei, who defeated Thailand to grab the third spot in their respective pool. Considering the current form and level, Qatar now appear to have a golden opportunity to win the last eight stage match and qualify for the semi-finals for the first time in Asian championship history.
The Gulf team battled hard against the Chinese in the decider and opened a two-point gap at 6-4. However their rivals managed to tie the scores twice (6-6 and 7-7) before going 8-7 up at the cross-over. Now Qatar equalised as the Chinese netted their service.
But at this stage, China suddenly jumped to 13-8 advantage with Ji Daoshuai excelling with two smashes and a touch out. The turn-around demoralised the Qataris and later Zhang Zhejia drilled a smash to close out the contest.
But the evening schedule was to see more thrills with former four-time champions South Korea put in a dazzling performance to beat double reigning winners Iran by 17-25 38-26 25-20 25-23.
This come-from-behind triumph sent South Korea to the head of the group and they will face Japan in the knock-out stage (quarter-finals).
Iran, who were runners-up to the Koreans in the group, will clash with Australia for a spot in the semi-finals.
The Koreans deserve praise as this was their first victory over Iran since 2006 Asian Games quarter-finals in Doha. After that, South Korea had lost seven clashes to Iran, including last edition’s final.
Results (top eight teams)
Chinese Taipei beat Thailand 25 22 25 20 25 22
South Korea beat Iran 17-25 38-26 25-20 25-23
Australia beat Japan 23 25 25 2125 23 25 21
China beat Qatar 17-25 25-16 17 25
25 19 15 10
Teams from 9 to 16 places
Kuwait beat Oman 25 22 23 25 25 21 25 23
Kazakhstan beat Pakistan 21 25 25 20 18 25 25 17 15 12
Sri Lanka beat Turkmenistan 25-19 25-18 24-26 25-23
Bahrain beat India 25-17 15-25 14-25 25-22 16-14