Pakistan fell flat against a strong Indian side. − AFP Photo

Pakistan recorded their third successive defeat at the Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship when they were comprehensively beaten by hosts India at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday.

India cruised to a straight-sets win over their arch rivals with scores of 25-17, 25-15 and 25-22, to book a place in the final against tournament favourites Iran. The match, which lasted 70 minutes, was completely dominated by the hosts from the beginning as Pakistan failed to make an impact.

India welcomed back star spiker Gurchand Singh, who reportedly missed the match against Iran due to injury. Singh`s smash and service excellence proved too much for a demoralised Pakistan side, whose participation wasn`t confirmed until two days before the tournament kicked off.

Ranked 61 places behind their eastern neighbours, the Pakistani squad underwent a 48-hour commute to reach the host city. Despite losing their first two matches (against Iran and Kazakhstan), Pakistan`s coach Brazilian coach Augusto Sabbatini and captain Zaheer Abbas believed their side would be able to make a comeback against India.

With their miserable stint at the tournament now over, Pakistan will return home as India prepare to take on a red-hot Iran side on Monday.

Iran, ranked 18th in the world, remain unbeaten in the tournament and have only dropped one set in their three matches. India will hope to unsettle the tournament favourites with the backing of their home crowd as they vie for the gold medal.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.