The first semifinalists of the Sitting Volleyball competition at the 2018 Asian Para Games have been confirmed following Monday’s second and penultimate day of pool play.
Just like four years ago, Iran have been joined in the men’s semifinals by China and Kazakhstan. With one more day of preliminaries to play on Tuesday, the fourth semifinalist and the final finishing order in the two men’s groups – and therefore who will play who in the semifinals – is still to be determined.
Women’s Tournament
The women’s competition has seen the 2014 finalists – defending two-time champions China and Iran advance through to the semifinals. With more preliminary matches to be played on Tuesday and one more on Wednesday, it is still be determined to see who from Indonesia, Japan and Mongolia will join them.
World No. 2 China beat Japan 3-0 (25-7, 25-10, 25-8) – just like they did earlier this year at the World Super 6 – to advance to the semifinals where they are joined by Iran who beat Indonesia 3-0 (29-27, 25-18, 25-13).
Mongolia, Japan and Indonesia are all still in contention for the last two women’s semifinal spots with Indonesia, crucially, having two more games to play while Mongolia and Japan have one.
Men’s Play
In men’s action on Monday, defending champions Iran repeated their 2018 World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships win over Japan with a straights sets 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-18) victory while China proved too strong for Korea, winning 3-0 (25-13, 25-9, 25-16) in Group B.
In Group A, Kazakhstan made it two wins from two by beating Myanmar 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-19) while Iraq moved to second in the pool after overcoming hosts Indonesia 3-0 (25-11, 25-10, 25-10).
Iraq and Myanmar- both with one win and a loss – will play on Tuesday for the second semifinal spot from Group A.
Photo 1: Japan’s Koji Hidaka tries to beat the impressive Mongolian block by Urantsetseg Baatar
Photo 2: Indonesia captain Anissa Tindy Lestary (left) celebrates with Bima Tri Sanjaya
Quick Links
World ParaVolley Asian Para Games Sitting Volleyball webpage
2018 Asian Para Games official website
Live Streaming – Asian Para Games 2018
Live Streaming – International Paralympic Committee