News / Sports

Iran placed 2nd in beach volleyball championships

Tuesday, 22 December 2015 3:44 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 22 December 2015 3:44 PM ]

The national Iranian men's beach volleyball team (file photo)

Iran has finished as the runner-up at the AVC Continental Cup Central Zone Beach Volleyball Championships in India, following a defeat against Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s pair of Alexey Kuleshov and Alexandr Dyachenko got off to a strong start against the Persians in an encounter held in Kozhikode, southern India, on Sunday, and edged past Iran’s team A squad Rahman Raoufi and Bahman Salemi 17-21, 21-18 and 15-10.

The Iranians could establish themselves in the second clash with Kazakhs, and the Islamic Republic’s team B, comprised of Saber Hoshmand and Abbas Pourasgar, came from behind to steal the show and claim the showdown against Sergey Bogatu and Dmitriy Yakovlev 17-21, 21-17 and 15-6.

Kazakh beach volleyball players did not capitulate as the face-off entrenched into the deciding golden match.

Alexey Kuleshov and Alexandr Dyachenko built up pressure on the Iranian pair Rahman Raoufi and Bahman Salemi in a hard-fought three-set thriller, and eventually captured the men’s title 21-12, 16-21 and 15-10.

India also defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in the third-place competitions, and settled for the bronze podium.

The AVC Continental Cup Central Zone Beach Volleyball Championships started in Kozhikode on December 18, and wrapped up on December 20.

Kazakhstan advanced to the final round of the AVC Continental Cup in Australia next year, while Iran and India will compete in the next year’s semi-final contests in Thailand.

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