Sri Lanka battled valiantly but had to end up on the losing side against Japan and South Korea in the two pool A matches of the 19th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Sri Lanka lost to defending champions Japan, who are world ranked 14th, in straight sets 25-17, 25-16 & 25-17. Sri Lanka fared better against the world ranked 22nd Korea losing 25-15, 25-20 & 25-20.
Sri Lanka hopeful of a top 10 finish at Asian Volleyball Championship
The Asian Men’s Senior Volleyball Championship is scheduled to be held from 24 th of July to 01 …
Japan, fresh from claiming a slot for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in Italy and Bulgaria after winning the AVC Qualifier Pool B in Australia, rested their best players including Takashi Dekita and Yuki Ishikawa in this first match, but fielded young talents including Issei Otake. Hideomi Fukatsu, who won the Best Setter Award at the previous edition in Iran, remained with the Japanese side in an attempt of helping the team retain the title.
For Sri Lanka Deepthi Romesh top scored with 12 points and vice-captain Gayan Madusanka scored 9 points. For Japan Otake Issei and Ri Haku scored 11 and 10 points each.
“I have one thing to say…. good to win. We next play Vietnam and I think we have nothing to worry. We just play the match and do our best. This is the same Japanese team which won the AVC Qualifier in Australia, but only half of the team players competed with the team which captured the Asian title in Iran two years ago,” said Japan’s head coach Yuchi Nakagaichi
Results (Day 1)
Pool A
Indonesia bt Saudi Arabia 3-1 (25-23, 25-20, 22-25, 26-24)
Kazakhstan bt Qatar 3-2 (18-25, 20-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-10)
Pool B
Chinese Taipei bt Pakistan 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-13)
Iran bt Iraq 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-21)
Pool C
Japan bt Sri Lanka 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-17)
Korea bt Vietnam 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-17)
Pool D
Australia bt Hong Kong 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-16)
China bt Thailand 3-0 (25-19, 29-27, 25-13)
Results (Day 2)
Pool A
Qatar bt Saudi Arabia 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-22)
Kazakhstan bt Indonesia 3-2 (23-25, 27-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-13)
Pool B
Chinese Taipei bt Iraq 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-22)
Iran bt Pakistan 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-14)
Pool C
Japan bt Vietnam 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-18)
Korea bt Sri Lanka 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-20)
Pool D
Australia bt Thailand 3-2 (19-25, 26-28, 25-19, 25-14, 15-11)
China bt Hong Kong 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-19)
