Pakistan down Kazakhstan in volleyball opener

Pakistan on Sunday made a winning start to their men's volleyball competition in the 20th Asian Games, beating Kazakhstan 3-1 in their Pool A opener at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium.

Pakistan took the match 25-16, 25-22, 17-25, 25-20 in one hour and 26 minutes, overcoming a Kazakhstan fought back in the third set before folding the show in four sets.

Murad Khan was Pakistan's leading scorer with 21 points, including 17 successful spikes and four blocks. Usman Faryad Ali added 14 points, while Murad Jehan contributed 11.

Pakistan dominated the opening two sets, winning them 25-16 and 25-22, but Kazakhstan responded emphatically in the third, taking it 25-17 to extend the match.

Pakistan regained control in the fourth set and finished 25-20 to claim the victory.

Pakistan's attacking display was a treat to watch. They scored 55 points from spikes compared with Kazakhstan's 48 and converted 13 per cent of their 56 blocking attempts, while Kazakhstan recorded 23 per cent from 44 attempts.

“We should have won 3-0,” Pakistan team manager and former captain Naseer Ahmed told The Express Tribune from Nagoya.

“After taking two sets boys took it a bit easy and Kazakhs did well at that point by winning that set. I am hopeful we will also beat Uzbekistan and Japan,” Naseer said.

Pakistan will now face Uzbekistan on Monday and Japan on Tuesday.

As many as 16 teams are contesting in the event, which have been placed in four groups. Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Japan have been bracketed in Group A while Group B carries Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia and Thailand. Similarly, Group C contains Qatar, Hong Kong, India and Vietnam while Korea, Philippines, China and Chinese Taipei have been clubbed in Group D.

The top two teams from each pool will progress to the October 1 quarter-finals. The semi-finals will be conducted on October 2 with the final and bronze medal match to follow on October 3.