On Thursday, the Iranian team eased past Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-16) in its last preliminary Pool A clash.
Iran, former seven-time champions and bronze medalist at the last year’s Boys’ U-19 World Championship on home soil, topped Pool A with full 9 points from three wins on the trot. China finished second in the pool with 6 points from two wins against one loss, with Chinese Taipei in third position with 3 points from one win against two losses. Winless Kuwait came in fourth place in Pool A.
“I don’t want to say that we played better because Chinese Taipei is a good team but I can say that they were different from us in terms of height. We could control the game with good service and we had good receptions as well. We will try to improve day by day and we are grateful to the Iranian spectators for their support,” Iran head coach Reza Vakili Farjad said.
The four winning teams on Saturday will not only advance to the semifinals of the topflight championship, but also secure their places in the next year’s FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U-19 World Championship.