LAHORE: Pakistan are looking to register a top-three finish in the ongoing Al-Rashid international volleyball tournament in Dubai.

Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) chairman Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob told Dawn that so far Pakistan had played three matches in the event, winning two of them.

According to him, Pakistan were scheduled to play their next match against Thailand late on Monday. The PVF chief said if the team won they would be in the race to claim top-three finish.

In their opener, Pakistan defeated the UAE 3-1, set scores being 21-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-21.

Pakistan struggled hard but lost to Tunisia 26-24, 25-23, 25-23 in the second match.

In their third game, Pakistan completed a close 3-2 win (set scores: 23-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 15-9) against Saudi Arabia, another significant opponent.

Regretting lack of funds faced by the PVF, Yaqoob said if the government extended the federation its full support, Pakistan team had the talent to qualify for the 2016 Olympics Games.

He insisted that a foreign coach was urgently required to raise a formidable team, adding the PVF had no sufficient funds to meet the expenditures of a foreign coach.