TEHRAN, Sept. 8--Iran hammered China 3-0 in the Asian Youth Volleyball Championship in Khalifa Hall of the Qatari capital, Doha, Tuesday.
Iran handed the Chinese a humiliating defeat as it won 25-16 25-17 25-18.
The Iranian side stuttered in the first step as it was beaten Monday.
Korea stunned Iran in three straight sets, winning 25-19 25-15 25-19.
Talking to IRNA, the secretary of the Iranian federation said, "We wrapped victory up for Korea."
Saeid Derakhshandeh added the Iranian players had a lackluster performance and let Korea win.

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia hits a return to Karol Beck of Slovakia during their match at the US Open in New York on Tuesday. (Reuters Photo)

NEW YORK, Sept. 8--Jennifer Capriati and Elena Dementieva claimed semifinal spots at the US Open after a day of drama, controversy and magical tennis on Tuesday, Reuters said.
Russian sixth seed Dementieva showed incredible courage, battling against a strained thigh, stomach pains and her own serving demons to end second seed Amelie Mauresmo's dream of a first grand slam title with a 4-6 6-4 7-6 victory.
But the real fireworks came later on a crackling Arthur Ashe Court when eighth seed Capriati downed twice former champion Serena Williams 2-6 6-4 6-4 after two hours six minutes of unrelenting theatre.
The 17th meeting between the old foes had everything the crowd could have asked for as two of the heavyweights of women's tennis went toe-to-toe under the Flushing Meadows lights.
Earlier, Frenchwoman Mauresmo's grand slam jinx struck again as she missed the chance to overhaul Justine Henin-Hardenne at the top of the world rankings.
Dementieva served 15 double faults and was in obvious discomfort from her stomach upset as she dragged herself back to win a contest containing 14 service breaks.
The Russian, who beat Mauresmo in the quarterfinals of the French Open, showed huge mental strength to stay in touch during the second set when she was twice down a break.
By the time the third set reached the tiebreak she was often bent double between points, but she summoned up her last reserves of energy to take it 7-1.
The early action on Arthur Ashe Court was tame by comparison as 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt cruised through to the quarterfinals, beating unseeded Slovak Karol Beck 6-4 6-2 6-2.
Fourth seed Hewitt, still to drop a set in this year's tournament, broke in the ninth game of the first set and never looked back.
Tommy Haas, showing signs of the form that took him to two in the world before he was sidelined by shoulder surgery, saved three set points in the opening set against teenage Czech Tomas Berdych before completing a 7-6 6-1 7-5 victory.
The German, who is enjoying his best run at the US Open, will be aiming for revenge over Australian Hewitt, who beat him in the fourth round in 2001 before winning his first grand slam title.
Big-serving Swede Joachim Johansson reached his first grand slam quarterfinal with a clinical 6-2 6-3 6-2 defeat of Frenchman Michael Llodra.
The 28th seed banged down another 10 aces, taking his tournament tally to 76, to line up a meeting with defending champion Andy Roddick or Tommy Robredo.

Russian forward Alexander Frolov, (r) and US defenseman Brian Rafalski battle for the puck during the third period of their World Cup of Hockey quarterfinal game in St. Paul, Minn. on Tuesday. (AP Photo)

NEW YORK,
Sept. 8--Keith Tkachuk grabbed four goals and an assist to power the United States to a 5-3 victory over Russia in their World Cup quarter-final at St Paul, Minnesota on Tuesday, Reuters said.
Tkachuk scored twice in the third period as the Americans avenged a 3-1 defeat by the Russians in the round-robin stage to set up a semi-final against Finland at St Paul on Friday.
The Americans lost their first two games of the tournament and were criticised for being too old and slow. They looked neither against the Russians.
"I didn't like that term 'too old', that's experience," Tkachuk told reporters. "According to you guys, a bunch of old guys won tonight.
"We just wanted to get back to playing our style, be patient and play more disciplined and play good defence. We enjoy playing with each other and we want to make the most of this." Tkachuk now has 10 goals in 11 World Cup games.
Mike Modano had four assists for the Americans, playing on a line with Tkachuk. Bill Guerin and Brian Rafalski each added two assists.
"The round-robin is the round-robin, it is what it is," Modano said. "We just wanted to get better as the tournament goes on and that's what we're doing."
Tkachuk opened the scoring at 11:20 of the first period before doubling the lead 1:56 into the second to the delight of the pro-American crowd of 17,218 at the home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.
Dimitri Afanasenkov put the Russians on the board at 7:14 of the second, beating netminder Robert Esche, and Dainius Zubrus leveled 36 seconds into the third period.
Scott Gomez gave the US a 3-2 advantage at 4:25 of the third period before Tkachuk completed his hat-trick 22 seconds later.
Ilya Kovalchuk replied for the Russians at 11:04 on a four-minute powerplay and then pressed for the equalizer. But Esche made several good saves before Tkachuk sealed the win with an empty-net marker with 55 seconds left.
Alex Kovalev had an assist and was selected as Russia's player of the game.
But, with goalie Ilya Bryzgalov having an average night, the Russians could not generate enough offence, each team firing 21 shots.

LONDON, Sept. 8--India batsman Rahul Dravid was named world player of the year at the inaugural International Cricket Council (ICC) awards on Tuesday, Reuters said.
He was chosen by a 50-strong panel of former cricketing greats, national captains, umpires and referees.
"It is quite unbelievable, I am really proud," said Dravid, who was also named test player of the year. "I am so happy to be recognized by some really great people."
The opener, who recently turned his hand to wicketkeeping, received the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for being the best player in both forms of the game in the year to July 31 2004.
England all rounder Andrew Flintoff was chosen as one-day international cricketer of the year to top off a memorable week for the 26-year-old.
"If someone had said three years ago you would be getting one-day player of the year I wouldn't have believed them," said Flintoff, who beat off competition from Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and Adam Gilchrist.
"It has been a special week. I am pinching myself."
Pointing was named captain of both World XIs and asked who would win if there was a game between the one-day XI chosen by the panel and his Australia side, he said: "Probably just the Aussies by a run or two."
The awards, held at London's Alexandra Palace, were organized to coincide with the ICC Champions Trophy which starts in England on Friday.
Indian left arm seamer Irfan Pathan was named best emerging player and Simon Taufel won the best umpire award.

ZARAGOZA, Spain, Sept. 8--For the second year running Alessandro Petacchi won a bunch sprint at the Tour of Spain in Zaragoza to take his second stage of the 2004 race, Reuters said.
However, Petacchi's victory at the end of the 167.5 km fourth stage from Soria, for which he clocked a time of four hours 23 minutes and one second, was tough to come by.
Less than a wheel length separated the Italian, who now has 10 Tour of Spain stage wins in his career, from German Erik Zabel with former world champion Spaniard Oscar Freire third.
"I knew it was going to be close because of the winds which made it a lot harder for a team throughout the stage," said the Fassa Bortolo rider, who amassed nine stage wins in this year's Giro d'Italia.
"We discussed working together with Erik (Zabel) and his T-Mobile team because we were both interested in a bunch sprint but then in the last 50 metres I lost sight of him."
"I turned round to see where he was and ended up taking the stage by very little but the important thing was to win."
After winning in Burgos earlier in the race, Petacchi's total of 19 wins this season makes him the rider with most victories, while Monday's stage winner, Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, is the next most successful with 15.
Asked if, like Valverde, he wished to make the world championship his next target, the 30-year-old from La Spezia said he would not take part "because it is too hard for me".
"I will race Paris-Tours and that will be my season over," he said referring to the World Cup event he lost to Zabel in the final metres last year.
Luxembourg's Benoit Joachim of US Postal was race leader for a second day but the strong head and cross winds combined with several mid-stage crashes made it a tough day for the peloton.
Leading contender American Tyler Hamilton went down in a four-man pile up at 112 km but was able to continue.

KATOWICE, Poland, Sept. 8--England striker Michael Owen has dismissed criticism of his recent form and said he fully deserves to play against Poland in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier, Reuters said.
Owen has been under the spotlight after contributing just four goals in his last 11 internationals.
He failed to score in Saturday's opening 2-2 Group Six draw in Austria and scored only once--against Portugal-during England's Euro 2004 campaign.
Grilled over the unswerving loyalty shown him by manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, Owen told reporters on Tuesday: "I think that I'm playing on merit. I've performed well enough to justify my place in the team in the past few games."
"I'm still scoring goals and still believe I should be in the team as the main goalscorer. If someone doesn't think I should be, then fine.
"But I can look in the mirror and I'm totally comfortable with my role in the team and the way I'm playing."
Pointing to last month's friendly win over Ukraine and England's quarterfinal exit to Portugal at Euro 2004, the new Real Madrid forward said: "I scored against Ukraine, and against Portugal. I'm happy enough.
"I've developed my game a bit. I had a hand in both goals the other day and I set up plenty of goals at Euro 2004," said the striker, who has scored 27 times in 62 games for England.
Owen also hit back at British media accusations that some England players, such as Owen and skipper David Beckham, have slipped from their peak form because they feel comfortable in the knowledge of being picked.
"I've been in the team a long time and I see the (media) cycles we go through," said the 24-year-old, whose international career started at the age of 18.
"Now it's about a comfort zone and in six months' time, it'll be something else.
"I'm very positive about the England national side.
"No-one likes playing against England, we're one of the top countries in the world and we've some of the best players and young players in the world."