Leading volleyball stars to compete in Islamabad
Pakistan Times Sports Desk

ISLAMABAD: World leading volleyball stars will be seen in action in the Asian Club Volleyball Championship that explodes into action at the Liaquat Gymnasium Islamabad from June-1.

As many as seven leading club teams from all over Asia are to participate in the championship the draws ceremony of which was held in presence of International Volleyball Committee member in the Liaquat Gymnasium on Wednesday.

Mu Shan Rid, GM Thai Volleyball who is also a member of World organizing committee, monitored the draws ceremony and later held a press conference at the SAF Games media center.

Director General, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) was also present at the draw ceremony. " Pakistan could go on to hold the Asian Volleyball Championship provided it has the provision of two international standard gymnasium in one city. Currently it has only one in Liaquat Gymnasium," Shan Rid said.

The Thai volleyball GM who was also accompanied by Maj Afzal, secretary Pakistan Volleyball Federation and Maj Mushtaq, chief coach expressed his happiness over the facilities for the Club Championship.

Meanwhile, all the participating clubs in the Championship have been given the option to include two international starts in their team. " These clubs have already started talking with American and European top players to represent their respective team in the Club Championship," Qazi Mushtaq said.

He said that Pakistan is also looking for two starts. " We definitely have financial concentrates and would hire starts considering these restraints," he said.

Meanwhile, all the champion clubs of seven countries would participate in the championship. "We have yet to get the final names of these clubs. However, draws have been made under the names of their respective countries and that is the usual routine," Maj Afzal said.

The seven countries that are participating in the Championship are: Kazakhstan, India, Uzbekistan, Iran, China, Pakistan and Thailand.

Following are draws (according to the respective country)

June 1; India vs Thailand, Uzbekistan vs Pakistan; India vs China – June 2; Thailand vs Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan vs India, Pakistan vs Iran – June 3; Kazakhstan vs Uzbekistan, Iran vs Thailand, China vs Pakistan – June-4; India vs Uzbeks ten, Kazakhstan vs Iran, Thailand vs China – June-5 (Rest day) – June-6; Pakistan vs Thailand, china vs Kazakhstan, Iran vs India – June-7; Uzbekistan vs Iran, India vs China; Kazakhstan vs Pakistan – June-8; China vs Uzbekistan, Thailand vs Kazakhstan, Pakistan vs India.●