LAHORE: Pakistan secured a place in the semi-finals of the Asian U-16 Volleyball Championship and booked their berth in next year’s FIVB U-17 World Championship after defeating Indonesia in straight sets in the quarter-final held in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand on Wednesday.

The national side registered a 3-0 victory with set scores of 25-23, 25-20, 25-20. Key contributions came from Junaid, Faizan, Talha, and Saran, who were instrumental in maintaining Pakistan’s unbeaten run in the tournament.

“This win is not just about reaching the semi-finals; it’s about proving that Pakistan’s youth has the strength and skill to compete at the highest levels,” Pakistan head coach Kafiatullah said. “Qualification for the FIVB U-17 World Championship is a moment of national pride.”

Earlier in the group stage, Pakistan had overcome South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Chinese Taipei to advance to the knockout round.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2025