Dhaka – Defending champions Bangladesh will take on stronger Turkmenistan in the final of the six-nation Bangabandhu Asian Senior Men’s Central Zone International Volleyball Championship at the Shaheed Suhrawardy National Indoor Stadium here on Friday afternoon eying to retain the title.The title-deciding final will kick off at 3 pm.Meanwhile, two losing semifinalists — Nepal and Kyrgyzstan — will play in the 3rd place-deciding match at 10 am on the same day and same venue.
Bangladesh Television and Gazi TV will telecast the final live.Addressing the pressmen ahead of the final on Thursday, Bangladesh coach Alipour Aroji said they want to clinch the title although Turkmenistan are physical and technically superior to the hosts.
“They’re a professional and stronger team, but we have nothing to worry. We reached the final eliminating another stronger Kyrgyzstan and our team are now in good form and shape. So we’re confident of winning the match,” he said.
Bangladesh captain Horosit Biswas said, “We’ve fared well in service, block and attack and we have no pressure ahead the final.”
Earlier, Bangladesh booked a seat for the final eliminating Kyrgyzstan by 3-2 sets in the keenly contested 2nd semifinal while Turkmenistan made an easy passage to the final outplaying Himalayan nation Nepal by straight 3-0 sets in the first semifinal on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan finished 5th in the six-team fray beating the Maldives by straight 3-0 sets in a place deciding match on Thursday.UNB
