Iran vaulted into the volleyball history books to become the new
Boy's World Champion for the first time ever, with a electrifying
3-2 (21-25, 25-22, 26-24, 31-29, 15-7) victory over China in 130
minutes, in an spectacular all Asian final at the Gimnasio de Usos
Multiples in the Mexican city of Tijuana on Sunday.
The second place for China is the best ever for the country in
this FIVB event. China had never made it through to a boy's world
championship final before and only participated in two occasions
finishing in ninth position in 1999 and 2003 editions.
The final was a nail-biting five set thriller where Ghiasi
Motjaba was the finest and best scorer player on the court during
the final with 30 points. For the Chinese side, Chen Ping paced
with 21 points.
Earlier on Sunday in Tijuana hall, France grabbed the bronze
medal after defeating Argentina 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 26-24, 27-25) in
almost two hours. The young European champions emerged victorious
to close off what has been for this new generation of French
players, an amazing World Championship.
Argentine Facundo Conte was best scorer of the match with 30
points, while Guillaume Quesque also did a good work for his colors
triumph with 21 points.
While this was the first time ever for France to step into the
Top Four and climb on the podium, for Argentina it is only a
repetition of the fourth place of the 2005 edition, when they lost
the bronze medal to Italy.
Also in Tijuana, Poland came up with another good performance,
winning Belgium for the fifth spot. The match ended 3-1 (25-13,
25-23, 17-25, 25-15). Maciej Krzywiecki led the winners with 17
points.
Belgium can be satisfied with their surprising place in the
"Elite Eight" of the world, as this was the first time for them
participating in a Youth World Championship.
In the match for seventh place, Brazil, six-time world champion
and one of the big deceptions of the tournament, needed four sets
to defeat India 25-17, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16. Singh Mandeep from
India added 17 points to his leading tournament total of 156.
In Mexicali for the 9-16 finals, Russia, defending two-time
world champion and pre-tournament favorite will return home only
with the ninth place. The Russians prevailed over the Germans 3-1
(23-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-17). Ruslan Moskin was the best scorer of
the match adding 28 points for the winners.
Earlier in the same site, Puerto Rico defeated host Mexico in
straight sets (25-20, 25-18, 25-14) for the 11th place and Cuba
dismissed Tunisia 3-1 (25-21, 30-32, 25-23, 25-21) for the 13th
position. Finally, the USA was a 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-19) winner
over Egypt for 15th position as the Africans finished in the last
place of the tournament.
Final Ranking
1. Iran; 2. China; 3. France; 4. Argentina; 5. Poland; 6.
Belgium; 7. Brazil; 8. India; 9. Russia; 10. Germany; 11. Puerto
Rico; 12. Mexico; 13. Cuba; 14. Tunisia; 15. United States; 16.
Egypt
Individual Awards
MVP: Ghiasi Mojtaba (Iran)
Best Scorer: Singh Mandeep (India)
Best Attacker: Huang Bin (China)
Best Server: Rolando Cepeda (Cuba)
Best Blocker: Alireza Jadidi (Iran)
Best Setter: Nicolas Uriarte (Argentina)
Best Libero: Erik Shoji (United States)
Best Defender: Erik Shoji (United States)
Best Receiver: Dennis Del Valle (Puerto Rico)
(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2007)