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Defending champions Ali International outplayed Indian Cultural and Arts Society (INCAS) in straight sets to notch up their team’s second win in as many matches in the 4th VoliQ Cup Indian Volleyball Tournament at Rayyan Indoor Stadium on Tuesday evening. |
Ali International, consisting mainly of players from Tamil Nadu, which finished runners up in the Indian national championship in Jaipur earlier this year won the match, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 in a little over 55 minutes.
INCAS, having raised expectations after their second win on Tuesday evening, had no answer to the power-packed full court game exhibited by the likes of Ukkara Pandian, Naveen Jacob Raja, Prabhu, Vaishnav and Moses. While Moses and Vaishnav stood out with their remarkable blocks, Naveen Raja and Prabhu exhibited their prowess in deft placements and ferocious smashes.
While INCAS coach Avinash Kumar Yadav tried substitutions at regular intervals, even replacing an off-colour Dileep with Harminder Pal Singh in the crucial third set, it seemed to make no difference to the flow of the match. It was INCAS’ first defeat in three matches.
Naveen Raja was adjudged as the Man of the Match and received a special award from Abdul Nasser (Neelima Restaurant).
In the other match, Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC Qatar), riding on impressive performances by Sahet Kumar, Lavmeet Kataria, Marshad Suhail, Ashiok Karthik, Jishad and Rakesh, scored a convincing win over Sanskriti, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18, 25-17.
After the completion of six matches, Ali International and INCAS share the top spot of the table with four points each from two victories, and KMCC and Construct International have two points each. Sanskriti, who finished runners-up last year are virtually out of the show after their third consecutive loss.