Pakistan clinch Central Asian Volleyball Championship title

Staff Report

 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan won the Central Asian Volleyball Championship title, defeating Turkmenistan 3-1 in the final match at the Liaquat Gymnasium in here on Friday. The final was played between Pakistan and Turkmenistan, with Pakistan emerging victorious after winning three sets while Turkmenistan managed to win only one. The green shirts secured their victory with 25-21, 25-19, 20-25, and 25-14 points. Pakistan remained unbeaten in the tournament and this marks their fifth consecutive win. On Thursday Pakistan defeated Kyrgyzstan in the semifinals with a convincing 3-0 set victory to reach the final, winning 25-18, 27-25, 27-25. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan defeated Sri Lanka to secure the third position in the tournament. The Pakistan Volleyball Federation hosted the event. At the conclusion of the event, Federal Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal presented awards to the players, while diplomats from various countries also attended the final match. Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan the government’s commitment in improving Pakistan’s sports landscape. Declaring 2025 as the year of sports revival in Pakistan, the minister expressed his determination to take Pakistan’s sports to new heights. “All-out efforts are being made to improve Pakistan’s sports,” he added. The minister highlighted the importance of the conference in reviving and improving sports in the country. “Victory is not won on the field of play, but it has to be planted in the mind,” he said. He pledged to provide comprehensive support to Pakistan’s talented athletes, saying that the country had immense talent. Ahsan announced several initiatives to promote sports, including the preparation of 2028 Olympics, promotion of institutional sports, and establishment of an endowment fund for players. He also mentioned the installation of astro-turfs to highlight sports from the grassroots level.