Press release

Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, October 9, 2010 – Japan shattered Iran's dreams of making it three Junior Men's Volleyball Championship titles in a row, stunning their rivals in four dramatic sets to win 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-12, 25-23) and capture the Asian crown for the first time in 22 years.

Japan's victory on Saturday brought an exciting conclusion to the 15th edition of this biennial tournament, which was first staged in 1980 in Seoul, South Korea. For Japan, who had finished a disappointing seventh last time out, it was their first Asian title since 1988 and avenged their final defeat in 2006 when Iran captured the crown on home soil in Tehran.

Japan fielded the same strong line-up that had toppled China the previous day as they took on an Iran team who had not lost a match en route to the final. The Japan team included Taiki Tsuruda, Kodai Yoshioko, Takashi Dekita and the formidable Yamato Fushimi, who stands 206cm tall and weighs 115kg. Iran were spearheaded by the hard-attacking Amir Ghafour and Purya Fayazid but were missing muscular libero Seyed Mohammad Hosseinpouya, who had been hospitalised with a stomach problem and replaced by Saeid Shirood.

After the teams reached the third set level at 1-1, Japan's performance went up a gear. The Iranians were mounting a strong challenge – with terrific jump serves, devastating spikes and scintillating blocks – but Japan refused to yield, avoiding any unforced errors and playing impeccably in defence, ensuring every point was a battle for their opponents. Japan duly took the third set 25-12.

Iran poured everything they had into the fourth set, but it was too late as Japan had the bit between their teeth. Ryota Denda punctured the Iranian defence with an exceptional spike to give Japan a 24-22 lead, leaving them on match point. Daiki Hisahara’s serve went to the net but Iran's reprieve was brief –  Taiki Tsuruda exploded a powerful mid-court spike soon after and Japan had won a hard-fought set 25-23 and, with it, the championship.

While the Japan players celebrated by throwing head coach Noriaki Sako into the air, some of the Iran players left the competition hall in tears. "I'm very happy that my players finally made it here after years of waiting," Sako said. "We played well up to our standard. I told everyone not to give up easily despite the fact that our rivals are very, very strong and it’s not easy to topple them. We did our best and our determination just paid off handsomely."

India went one better than their fourth-place finish at the previous edition two years ago – they were fourth also at last year's FIVB Men's Junior Volleyball Championship on home soil – as they recovered a two-set deficit to beat China in the match for third place, winning 21-25, 17-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-10. With only the top three teams winning berths in next year's FIVB World Men’s Junior Volleyball Championship in Brazil, India's success means they will join Japan and Iran in the world meet.

South Korea took fifth place, which was one better than their performance in 2008.   The six-time winners had to fight hard for it, as they came from behind to beat Chinese Taipei 23-25, 25-23, 25-27, 25-21, 15-13 victory. Meanwhile, hosts Thailand saved the best for last on Saturday by beating Qatar for seventh place. The Thais had already defeated their opponents in the preliminary rounds but it took them five sets to repeat their victory, as they prevailed 25-13, 16-25, 25-19, 26-28, 15-13.

In the play-off for ninth place, Indonesia turned the tables on a Sri Lanka against whom they had lost in the preliminaries. The Southeast Asian side won a gruelling five-set contest 25-18, 22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-6 in 106 minutes. Finally, at the Ratchaburi Gymnasium, Kazakhstan had it considerably easier against Vietnam, tearing their less-skilled rivals' defence to shreds in an easy straight-set victory (25-11, 25-15, 25-16) in just 56 minutes. In the process the Kazakhs tied up 11th place, and consigned Vietnam to a disappointing 12th-placed finish.

FINAL RESULTS
11th-12th play-off: Kazakhstan beat Vietnam 3-0 (25-11, 25-15 ,25-16)

9th-10th play-off: Indonesia beat Sri Lanka 3-2 (25-18, 22-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-6)

7th-8th play-off: Thailand beat Qatar 3-2 (25-13, 16-25, 25-19, 26-28, 15-13)

5th-6th play-off: Korea beat Chinese Taipei 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-27, 25-21, 15-13

Bronze-medal match: India beat China 3-2 (21-25, 17-25, 27-25,25-22 ,15-10)

Championship match: Japan beat Iran 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-12, 25-23).

FINAL STANDINGS
1. Japan, 2. Iran, 3. India, 4. China, 5. Korea, 6. Chinese Taipei, 7. Thailand, 8. Qatar, 9. Indonesia, 10. Sri Lanka, 11. Kazakhstan, 12. Vietnam, 13. Iraq, 14. New Zealand, 15. Australia, 16. Maldives

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Best Scorer: Dai Qingyao (China)

Best Spiker: Song Jianwei (China)

Best Blocker: R.Vaishnav (India)

Best Setter: Xu Xiantao (China)

Best Libero: Satoshi Ide (Japan)

Best Server: Song Jianwei (China)

MVP: Taiki Tsuruda (Japan)