India on Sunday took the silver medal at the Asian Men's Under-23 Volleyball Championship after suffering a one-set-to-three loss to Chinese Taipei in the final in Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday.
India was slow off the blocks and allowed the opposition to steer the first set, especially after the 10-point mark, but it then threatened to mount a comeback in the latter part. The deficit, however, proved too big to overturn and Amit Gulia’s men conceded the set 21-25.
India took the lead early in the second set, powered by the combination of Muthusamy and Shon John, and held it for the most part. But some ordinary receiving allowed Chinese Taipei to take the lead close to the 20-point mark and then run away with the rest of the set.
The third set saw some improved play by blockers Indian Shikhar Singh and Prince, but service errors at crucial points allowed Chinese Taipei to recover midway through. With the match at stake, India’s spikers upped their game to win the set 25-19.
After the brave fight in the third set, blocking and receiving errors by India in a hard-fought fourth set allowed Chinese Taipei to seal a comfortable 25-21, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23 win.
“It wasn’t our best day in the office. But I am still extremely proud of the result,” India coach Pritam Singh Chauhan said. “Yes, we would have loved to return home with a gold, but a silver is special for me as well as the young boys who worked extremely hard to reach this position. It’s been an extremely special journey.”
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