ISLAMABAD, June 25: India beat the Maldives 3-0 to grab the second Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship on better points average as hosts Pakistan got the fourth place with Iran gaining the second while defending champions Kazakhstan achieving the third spot at the Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Monday.

Sri Lanka gained fifth, Turkmenistan sixth and the Maldives had to content themselves with the seventh position.It was a well-deserved victory for the Indians as both Iran and Kazakhstan were on a par with India as all the three registered five wins and one loss each in the championship. However, a better points average (1.58) gave India an edge over the second-placed Iran (1.17) and the third-placed Kazakhstan (1.10).

In the second match of the tournament’s final day, India thrashed the Maldives 3-0 to take the first position in the championship. The Indians’ set scores were 25-13, 25-14, 25-12.India started their campaign with P.S Srikanth, middle spiker Sube Singh. India were too strong in all departments to grab the first two sets 25-13 and 25-14.

In the third set, the Indian spikers having an edge over their opponents started gaining faster points and took an early lead to finish the match at 25-12.

India also won Rs1.5 million announced for the tournament’s winners at the inaugural ceremony of the championship by President General Pervez Musharraf.Meanwhile the last match of the championship, played on single-league basis, was staged between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

The match was well consisted by both the teams with Kazakhstan taking advantage with intelligent blocking, deflected powerful spikes to overwhelm their opponents to lead 8-3 and the time out first technical time.

Kazakhstan’s ace spiker Sulmanvof contributed a major share which effective spiking.

Pakistan from came behind to level the score 14-14 and from then onwards a closed battle started between the contesting teams exchanging powerful spikes, over block and a piece of fine defence. The battle remained very close until Kazakhstan took the advantage of two sizzling points to finish the set 25-22 in their favour.

A determined Pakistan returned in the second set. Their ace spikers Naseer, showing peak form, were ably supported by Ismail and Sanaullah, and captain Zaman Butt. The hosts won 25-23 to level the score 1-1.

In the third set some testing volleyball was displayed by both teams in all departments. The set featured a sea-saw battle with some powerful exchange of spikes and defence as Kazakhstan finally managed to clinch the set 25-23.

The last set of the match turned out to be the second longest of the championship with the opponents crossing the thirty-point barrier after giving producing a tough fight and not allowing each other to take a big lead.

It was the game of nerves for both as Kazakhstan finally got two points in a row to win the set 32-30 and the match.

Earlier on Monday, in the first match Sri Lanka defeated Turkmenistan 3-1 with set scores of 22-25, 25-17, 25-14 and 25-17.

Turkmenistan overcame Sri Lanka in the first set 25-22 as Azimov Merdan, Rozmetov Bahram, Gilijov Arslan played pivotal roles through powerful spikes, intelligent placing and quick combinations. They led 8-4, 16-22, 22-18 before bagging the set.

In the second set Sri Lankan spikers fought back nicely, not allowing Turkmenistan to take lead. The islanders won the set 25-17.

The Sri Lankans showed their best in the third set to win it 25-14 while in the fourth and final set Turkmenistan tried their best to make a comeback but failed to do so, thus losing the set 25-17 and the match. At the closing ceremony President Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) Lt. Gen. Syed Arif Hasan was the chief guest, while Chairman Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) Chaudhry Yaqoob, Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Col Salahuddin were also present on the occasion along with other officials.

On Sunday, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and India had thrashed their respective opponents in the championship.

In the first match Pakistan easily defeated the Maldives 3-0 with set scores of 25-15, 25-13 and 25-16.

In the second match of the day, India thrashed Turkmenistan 3-0, 25-19, 25-23 and 25-18.

Kazakhstan came from behind to overpower Iran 3-2 in the third encounter played on Sunday. Kazakhstan won the match 19-25, 25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 18-16. –Agencies