Shahdab Yazd Qualifies for World Championship

Shahdab Yazd volleyball team secured a spot in the 2024 World Championship by defeating the representative from Kazakhstan in the semifinals of the Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship, advancing to the final of the continental competition.

According to the Communications Department of the Volleyball Federation, the sixth day and semifinals of the 26th Asian Men’s Club Volleyball Championship continued today (Friday, September 13) with four matches at Shahdab Yazd Hall.

Shahdab Yazd (Iran) and Pavlodar Volleyball Club (Kazakhstan) faced off at 5 PM in the third match of the day. Shahdab Yazd won the match 3-0 with scores of 25-21, 25-20, and 25-19, advancing to the final and securing a place in the World Club Championship.

Shahdab Yazd has achieved four consecutive victories so far, with three wins against Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Kuwait in the preliminary round, and defeating Gas Al Janoob (Iraq) in the first knockout round. In the semifinal match against Kazakhstan, Shahdab once again defeated the team to reach the final.

Pavlodar Volleyball Club (Kazakhstan) had one victory against Kuwait in the preliminary round and two losses against Shahdab and Indonesia. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Kam Air (Afghanistan) to advance to the semifinals.

Coach Mohammadi Radd’s players started the first set with high motivation, but the Kazakh opponent was not easily subdued, followed Shahdab point by point. Shahdab’s defensive block was a significant factor in stopping the Kazakh players’ spikes, leading to a 25-21 victory in the first set.

In the second set, Shahdab Yazd’s players entered the court with more organization and coordination, preventing the Kazakh representative from gaining any opportunities and staying several steps ahead in all points. This set ended 25-20 in favor of Shahdab, bringing them closer to the final.

In the third set, the Kazakh representative applied more pressure, but Shahdab continued to shine with power. The energetic atmosphere in the court provided additional motivation for Shahdab’s players. Following the tactical advice from the coaching staff, they decisively defeated their opponent with a score of 25-19, securing a place in the final and the World Club Championship.

Shahdab Yazd’s lineup for this match included captain Masoud Gholami, Amir Ghafour, Morteza Sharifi, Erfan Norouzi, Ali Usman Faryad, Ilshan Davoodipour, and libero Mohammad Reza Moazen.

With this victory, Shahdab Yazd will face the winner of the match between Foolad Sirjan (Iran) and Jakarta Bhayangkara Presisi (Indonesia) on Sunday for the championship title. Meanwhile, Pavlodar Volleyball Club (Kazakhstan) will compete for third place against the loser of the next match.

The referees for this match were Mousa Salim from Iraq and Indra Muflih from Indonesia. Shahdab hosted the Kazakh opponent in front of more than 6,000 spectators, including men and women, young and old, at the 6,000-seat Shahdab Yazd Hall. Some spectators had to stand due to the stadium’s full capacity.

Notably, Li Do-hee, head coach of the Iranian women’s national volleyball team, and Mehran Fatemi, governor of Yazd, were special guests at this match.