Indian spikers bow out

India bowed out of the men's Junior Volleyball World Championship, losing to Cuba in their penultimate league match at Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

The hosts sparkled in patches, in front of a jam-packed stadium, as they lost to the Central American team 19-25, 29-31, 24-26.

With only one match to go against Russia, on Tuesday, India were fourth in Pool A with five points. Only the top two teams from each of the two pools advance to the semi-finals.

In an exciting match, the Cubans drew first blood taking the opening set 25-19 but the hosts attacked well and fought back strongly in the second. But eventually they threw away the advantage, failing to make use of six set points before losing the set 29-31.

With their backs to the wall, the Indians began strongly in the third set, taking a 4-0 lead, but once again lost the plot missing another set point before Cuba wrapped up the set and match 26-24.

Cuba are now level with Korea on seven points in Pool A with Russia, who already have six points from three games, set to play Serbia and Montenegro later in the day.

In another Pool A match, Morocco put in a gallant fight against Asian Champions Korea before going down 10-25, 34-32, 25-27, 20-25.

The Koreans started well winning the first set 25-10 but the Africans rebounded winning the marathon second set 34-32 as Korea missed three set points.

Some improved blocking by Morocco got them close in the third set but Korea prevailed 27-25. The fourth set saw the Asian champions again asserting their supremacy as they settled the issue, winning the set 25-20.

In Pool B, Brazil continued their unbeaten run beating Germay 25-18, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18. In another match, USA drubbed Tunisia 25-17, 25-14, 27-25.