The Hindu : India regains title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 20, 2002

Sport

Sport - Volleyball

India regains title

Dubai March 19 . India regained the Rashid International volleyball title beating Iran in straight games 25-23, 25-23, 25-18 at the Al Shabab indoor stadium here on Monday night. The win, India's fourth in the tournament, was also a sweet revenge as it had lost to Iran in the preliminary round. In the third place playoff, Tunisia beat Ukraine 25-18, 25-22, 16-25, 25-23

The final started on an even note and the scores were level till 12-12 in the first game before Iran ran to a 22-15 lead helped by powerful smashes from Amir Hussain, Ali Reza Nadi and strong net blocks by Momeni and Tarkashvand.

But India did not panic and rallied brilliantly tightening its defence. Joby Joseph and Amir Singh soon found their touch and sliced through the Iranian defence, winning eight of the next nine points, to draw level at 23-23 and then led 24-23 before winning the game 25-23.

The second game went along similar lines as Iran raced ahead to lead 11-5. Fine play by the Indians saw them knotting it at 18-18 though Iran fought back to take a 22-19 lead. Once again Indians authored a spirited comeback to equal at 23-23 with excellent play by Subba Rao, Amir Singh and Joby. India was soon sitting pretty with a 2-0 lead by winning the second game 25-23 when Iran's Torkashwand erred with a drop shot.

The third game was an altogether different story as a confident India led from start to finish to wrap up the match.

As Iran's spikers suddenly went wayward, India tightened its grip excelling both in attack and defence leading 9-5, 13-11 and 19-12 before triumphing in style.

For the Indian coach Chander Singh, who was adjudged the best coach, it was a moment of reckoning as his team lived up to the expectations of the cheering expatriate fans who he felt were let down in the last two years when India finished third.

``We played to a strategy and were able to take the first two sets helped by some unforced errors from the Iranians,'' an ecstatic Chander Singh said.

India, winners in the first three years here since the inception of the trophy in 1996, had earlier upset defending champions Ukraine in the semifinal.

India's Tom Joseph was adjudged the best attacker and V. Ravikant Reddy, the best setter. Iran had some consolation when Amir Hossein Monazami was selected Player of the tournament, Mohammad Torkshvand as the best server and Ali Eza Nadi as the best blocker.

— PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport