Iran no match for title-hungry Japanese

GUANGZHOU - Resurgent Japan outlasted Iran 3-1 on Friday to win the Asian Games men's volleyball gold medal for the first time in 16 years, in a repeat of last year's Asian championship final.

Japan, who spiked Korea's bid for a third straight title with a 3-2 win in the semifinals, took the first set 25-19 against two-time silver medalists Iran as Kota Yamamura and Takaaki Tomimatsu blocked their spikes.

Iran brought in a string of substitutions in an effort to kill off Japan's momentum.