Thai spikers miss out on title win
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Thailand saw the title snatched from their grasp in Kazakhstan on Monday, going down to an in-form Bahrain in their last match at the President Cup Men's Volleyball Invitation in Almaty.
Thailand went into the game with three wins against one loss to Kazakhstan 1, and badly needed a 3-0 victory to stay in the hunt for the crown and the prestigious Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev Cup.
However, things turned sour when they failed to make their mark and suffered a 22-25 25-20 25-20 25-20 loss to the stronger Bahrainis.
Finishing in third place, Thailand received US$17,000 (around Bt530,000) in cash. Further consolation came with Thailand’s Saranchit Charoensuk winning the Best Setter Award.
Tunisia beat BOIC Motor from Beijing 3-2 (25-22 22-25 22-25 25-21 15-12) in their last match to clinch the trophy and US$30,000 in cash.
Kazakhstan 1 thrashed Kazakhstan 2 25-22 25-17 25-15 on Monday for second place and US$23,000. Bahrain, China’s BOIC Motor and Kazakhstan 2 took fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
Elsewhere, the 3rd AVC Asian Men’s Cup Volleyball Championship in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam wrapped up its group preliminaries on Monday.
A dominant Japan are yet to lose a single set and have topped Group A. South Korea, Vietnam and Myanmar took second, third and fourth respectively.
Defending two-time champions and Asian winners Iran top Group B as expected, ahead of China, India and then Australia.
Yesterday was the rest day. The play-offs start today, with India taking on South Korea, Japan facing Australia, Iran playing Myanmar and hosts Vietnam challenging China.
