Pakistan stun Iran to win Asian U-16 Volleyball Championship
The unbeaten Pakistan team made history on Saturday by clinching the title of the 2nd Asian Men's U-16 Volleyball Championship 2025 in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, with a dramatic 3-2 victory over defending champions Iran in a pulsating final.
In a match filled with intensity and momentum shifts, Pakistan stunned Iran after coming back from two sets down to claim a sensational five-set win with scores of 22-25, 21-25, 30-28, 25-21, and 15-10. The victory not only earned Pakistan the gold medal and the championship trophy, but also established them as a rising powerhouse in youth volleyball across Asia.
The final began with Iran taking early control, edging Pakistan in a close first set 25-22 and following up with a 25-21 win in the second. However, the young Pakistani squad mounted an impressive comeback, winning the third set in a thrilling 30-28 finish that shifted the momentum decisively.
Read More: Pak storms into the final of Asian U16 Volleyball
With renewed energy and precision, Pakistan took the fourth set 25-21 and dominated the fifth and final set 15-10, leaving the Iranian side unable to respond. It marked Pakistan's second win over Iran in the tournament, having previously beaten them 3-1 in the quarter-final round.
The result forced Iran, who had entered the final as defending champions, to settle for the silver medal.
With this win, Pakistan completed the championship undefeated — a campaign that included a commanding 3-0 semi-final victory over arch-rivals India. Iran had beaten Japan 3-0 in the other semi-final.
Pakistan's path to the title was marked by consistent excellence. In the group stage, they overcame strong opponents including South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Chinese Taipei to top Group D. They then defeated Indonesia in the quarter-finals, followed by back-to-back victories over Iran and India in the knockout rounds.
By securing the Asian title, Pakistan also booked their place in the FIVB U-17 World Championship 2026, further underlining their meteoric rise at the junior level.
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