Qatar clinch thriller to set up Iran semi

AVC

Jakarta: Devastating Qatar saved incredible nine match points to stun Japan (25-18, 26-28, 25-21, 22-25, 24-22) in a clash of the Titans to go up against title-holders Iran, as fired-up Korea cruised to gritty 3-0 victory over hosts Indonesia to challenge Chinese Taipei in tomorrow’s semi-finals of the 18th Asian Games volleyball competition at the GBK Tennis Indoor Stadium yesterday.

Japan and Qatar engaged in a fiery duel in yesterday’s quarter-final. The hi-octane game thrilled Indonesian fans at the venue with the pulsating rally-capped off, fighting spirit and team’s resilience.

Both sides sent a strong team to the 18th Asian Games. As Japan are defending consecutive two-time Asian champions and silver medallists at the incheon Games, Qatar early this month captured the maiden AVC Cup for Men title.

The Qataris, who finished a disappointing sixth place in Incheon, Korea four years ago, started solidly to win the opening set 25-18 before Japan, which fielded three players including Takashi Dekita and Takeshi Nagano who joined the gold-winning team at the last year’s Asian Senior Men’s Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia, counter-attacked to take the hotly-contested second set 28-26.

Qatar, led by Mubarak Hammad and Ndir Sadikh, regained their composure to bring their brilliant form back on track to snatch the third set 25-21. In the fourth set, Qatar started slowly and were errors-strewn as an energetic Japan won many crucial points at the near end of the set. Qatar roared back with fine attacks, but still found the well-established Japan an impossible nut to crack in the fourth set as they went down 22-25.

In the tie-breaker, both sides came in full force, but Japan gradually pulled their game together with an aim of ending the tough rivals’ resistance. Still, the determined Qataris came up with a seismically powerful display, saving 9 match points to capture the see-saw set 24-22 and the exhausting 144-minute match.

Mubarak Hammad scored a match-high 31 points including 25 kills from 50 attempts and a team-leading 5 blocks. Shunsuke Chijiki led Japan with 25 points.

Qatar advanced to the semi-finals of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, their second time in history that they could make it to the top four teams in the Asia’s biggest sporting event. Their first time that they reached the semi-finals was in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where they finished fourth on home soil.

Meanwhile, Iran and Chinese Taipei advanced to the semi-finals through the fast-track drawing of lots, which meant four teams in two matches (Iran took on China and Chinese Taipei played Saudi Arabia) had a lucky draw as they needed only one win in their match to make it to the semi-finals. Iran and Chinese Taipei emerged victorious, with the former thrashing China in straight sets and the latter demolishing Saudi Arabia 3-1.

In the quarter-finals yesterday, Korea, which brought in nine players competing in the previous Games in Incheon, where they had to be content with bronze medal, silenced the cheering home crowds with their incredible jumping ability and awesome combinations. They hustled and dived around the court, going for everything. Despite a sturdy challenge from Indonesia, star spiker Moon Sungmin and Jung Jiseok unleashed on several powerful blows to help the team storm into the semi-finals after 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-18) blitz over the host side.

Jung Jiseok and Moon Sungmin chipped in with similar 15 points for Korea, while Rivan Nurmulki was the lone Indonesian who scored a double-digit 11 points.

With the scintillating win over the host side, Korea secured their semi-final berth of the quadrennial sports extravaganza, where they are due to strut their stuff against Chinese Taipei.

Today is a rest day for the men’s teams. The men’s semi-finals will take place at the GBK Tennis Indoor Stadium tomorrow, with Qatar going up against title-holders Iran and Korea challenging Chinese Taipei. Classifications will also be held on the same day.

تأهل المنتخب القطري إلى الدور نصف النهائي من مسابقة الكرة الطائرة للرجال ضمن منافسات دورة الألعاب الآسيوية الثامنة عشرة “أسياد 2018” المقامة في إندونيسيا حاليا وتستمر حتى الثاني من سبتمبر المقبل، بعد فوزه اليوم على نظيره الياباني في ختام مباريات الدور ربع النهائي.

وجاء فوز المنتخب القطري بواقع ثلاثة أشواط مقابل شوطين (25-18، 26-28، 25-21، 22-25، 24-22)، بعد مباراة قوية ومثيرة من جانب لاعبي الفريقين لم تحسم إلا في شوطها الخامس وبعد اللجوء إلى نقطتي الحسم.

وضربت قطر موعدا في الدور نصف النهائي بعد غد الخميس مع المنتخب الإيراني، فيما تجمع مباراة نصف النهائي الثانية بين منتخبي كوريا الجنوبية والصين تايبيه.;