AVC Men Champs/Iran Took the 1st Debut Match against Iraq

Surabaya, Indonesia, July 24, 2017 – Strong teams powered past the minnows on the opening day of the SMM 19th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship.

Iran, former two-time Asian champions, but reportedly sending a U23 squad this time, and China, respective silver and bronze medalists at the previous edition in Tehran two years ago, also registered their first win on Monday. Iran, current world No.7 and the only Asian team which competed in the 2017 FIVB World League Group 1 to finish a distant 11th place this season, sailed past Iraq in comfortable straight sets 25-17 25-16 25-21

On Tuesday, Indonesia have a mountain to climb as they will face Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia challenge Qatar in Pool A, while Iraq take on Chinese Taipei and Iran face Pakistan in Pool B. The Pool C encounters see title-holders Japan face Vietnam and Sri Lanka go up against Korea, with Thailand playing Australia and Hong Kong taking on China in Pool D.

After the end of the pool round-robin preliminaries on Wednesday, only top two teams from each pool will make the cut for the quarter-finals. The teams finishing third and fourth places from each pool will be relegated for the 9th-16th classification round.

Monday’ s results

Pool round-robin preliminaries

Pool A

Indonesia b Saudi Arabia 3-1 (25-23 25-20 22-25 26-24)

Kazakhstan b Qatar 3-2 (18-2520-25 26-24 25-19 15-10)

Pool B

Chinese Taipei b Pakistan 3-0 (25-17 25-16 25-13)

Iran b Iraq 3-0 (25-17 25-16 25-21)

Pool C

Japan b Sri Lanka 3-0 (25-17 25-16 25-17)

Korea b Vietnam 3-0 (25-17 25-19 25-17)

Pool D

Australia b Hong Kong 3-0 (25-17 25-20 25-16)

China b Thailand 3-0 (25-19 29-27 25-13)