India went down to host Turkey in straight sets in a 5th-8th classification match at the World Junior Men’s Championship in Ankara, on Saturday.
India lost 18—25, 23—25, 20—25 at the Baskent Volleyball Hall.
India will now take on Argentina, who lost to Iran in another match, for the 7th-8th position play-off Sunday.
Turkey, led by their skipper Gokhan Gokgoz, controlled the situation on the court early and won the first set by 25—18.
India improved their performance and took the lead in the second but Kumar Sohan’s seven points in the set were not enough to get them back into the game. Turkey’s better blocking in the conclusive moments was the decisive factor.
The locals stepped up their blocking efforts even further to control the scoreboard in set three and clinched the tie.
Metin Toy scored 15 points for Turkey while Gokgoz collected 14 for his side. Sohan with 14 points was the best scorer of the match for India.
