News / Sports

Iran volleyball team struggles past Canada in Rio 2016 qualifier

Sunday, 29 May 2016 6:30 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 29 May 2016 6:39 AM ]

Iranian volleyball players celebrate after winning the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament match against Canada at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan, on May 29, 2016.

The national Iranian men's volleyball team eked out a hard-fought win Sunday at the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament currently being staged in Japan, overcoming the Canadian side.

The Iranian squad defeated Canada 3-2 (27-29, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21 and 16-14) in an epic encounter staged at the world-class Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Canadian volleyball players got off to a fine start, and took an early lead over the Persians. The North Americans then availed themselves of Iranian counterparts’ individual mistakes to notch up points.

The Canadian sportsmen maintained the lead with emphatic spikes and good defense, and eventually took the first set 29-27.

The national Canadian volleyball squad started the second set stalwartly, and led 8-4 at the first technical timeout.

The Iranians then put right their mistakes to surge ahead, and cut the deficit to 15-18. Canada took control later on, and claimed the second set 25-19.

Iran bounced back as the match extended into the third set and was ahead 8-5 at the first technical timeout. The Iranians then widened the gap, and recorded a 13-10 lead at the second technical timeout. Iranian volleyball players ultimately closed the set at 25-20.

The Canadians spearheaded by Gavin Schmitt battled to win the fourth set and call it a day, but were repulsed by the Iranians each time. Iran at last took the set 25-21.

Iranian volleyball players continued their great performance in the fifth set, and clinched the match 16-14.

“Canada showed good level of play today. They had a hard match yesterday and had to come back this morning and play. I'm happy with the result. We were close in the first set but could not control the tempo. We got our rhythm back so our defense was better from the third set,” Iran’s coach Raul Lozano said after the match.

An Iranian volleyball player hugs and lifts coach Raul Lozano after the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament win over Canada at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Japan, on May 29, 2016.

“We knew Canada are a strong team. The first set was tough. In the third set, we came back. Everybody helped today. It was a great victory to inspire us for our next matches,” Iran’s captain Saeid Marouf commented.

“We knew it would be difficult today after playing five sets yesterday. We lost some of our freshness after the second set. They made some key substitutions after the second set. We have to focus on our next matches after the rest day,” Canada’s coach Glenn Hoag noted.

The Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament t kicked off in Tokyo, Japan, on May 28 and will run through June 5, 2016.

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