https://arab.news/552ba
- Pakistan defeats Iran by 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 30-28, 25-21, 15-10) during final in Thailand
- Pakistan qualified for FIVB U-17 World Championship 2026 after beating India this week
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan beat formidable opponents Iran this week to clinch the second Asian Men’s Under-16 Volleyball Championship 2025 in Thailand, state-run media reported.
Pakistan stormed into the finals of the championship, which was being held in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, after downing arch-rivals India with set scores of 25-16, 25-19, and 25-12 on Friday.
The green shirts went on to beat Iran by 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 30-28, 25-21, 15-10) in what state-run media Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) described as a “nail-biting” 5-set thriller on Saturday.
“Pakistan team has created history by winning the gold medal in the 2nd Asian Men’s U-16 Volleyball Championship 2025,” APP reported on Saturday.
It said Pakistan won the encounter after being down by 0-2, showing “unmatched resilience” to make a comeback and clinch the gold medal.
“The match saw incredible contributions from top performers including Junaid, Faizan, Talha and Irfan,” the state media added.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to social media platform X to congratulate the team for their win.
“Great match Champs! Pakistan’s U16 volleyball team wins the Asian U16 Volleyball Championship after an enthralling performance,” Sharif wrote.
Pakistan has not only secured first position but also qualified earlier for the FIVB U-17 World Championship 2026, after beating traditional rivals India in the semifinal.