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Journalism of Courage
Pakistan thrashed title favourites Canada 25-21, 25-21, 16-25, 25-16 in a group league encounter of the 2nd Commonwealth Volleyball Championship for Men at the Netaji Indoor Stadium here today. With today’s win, Pakistan have virtually ensured a berth in the last four stage, but defending champions Canada are well out of the competition after suffering back-to-back defeats.
Irfan Nawaz and Kashif Mansoor put up a stellar display for Pakistan, affecting some great blocks at the net. The first set was a close affair but the South Asian side got the better of their American rivals by a whisker. The second set was also a close affair, but the experience of the Pakistan side held them in good stead and the nippy Ashfaq Hussain played a dominant role in defence, coming out with some acrobatic retrieving efforts.
Canada bounced back in the third set, downing Pakistan 16-25. Mark Dodds and Gavin Schmitt commanded total authority at the net and throttled any attack that the Pakistanis tried.
Both teams came out strong in the fourth set, but at 3-3 Nawaz rose to the challenge and some lovely smashes turned the table in Pakistan’s favour as they build up a healthy seven point lead. The difference was too steep for the Canadians to overcome, and Pakistan eventually wrapped up the proceedings.
Skipper M Zaman hailed the team’s victory, saying: “We have been playing as a team for a long time. We played the Central Asian Games and also the Test series against India. All this has helped us and if things go well we will like to face India in the final.”
In the first match of the day, South Africa continued their winning ways beating minnows New Zealand 25-19, 25-21, 25-22. With today’s win, the Proteas also booked a place for themselves in the semi-finals.
Welcome Nigeria
In a complete turnaround, the organisers here allowed Nigeria to take part in the tournament, though the team had not arrived on time and were threatened with expulsion.
Nigeria missed two deadlines and yesterday, the organising committee had scrapped them from the tournament. Till last night the Nigerian team remained untraceable, but they arrived today morning.
Tournament director A Ramana Rao, had earlier said that since the team had not given any explanation for their delay in arrival, the organizing committee will scratch them from the tournament. But today, he said: “We are happy that they have arrived at last. We were surprised.
“Then we thought why penalise them since they have come all the way. Thus after consulting all the teams here we re-drew the schedule.”
