Italy triumphed as the first ever U17 boys’ volleyball world champions. In Saturday’s final of the inaugural FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Sofia, they earned the historic trophy with a phenomenal comeback from two sets down against Argentina and after denying several opponent match points in the fourth. Chinese Taipei also made the podium as bronze medallists.

In a thrilling final, fit for the historic occasion, Italy mounted a furious comeback from two sets down to emerge triumphant with a 3-2 (23-25, 17-25, 25-22, 33-31, 15-9) victory over Argentina. After losing the first two sets, the European team managed to win the third, but in the fourth, the South Americans regained control and opened a four-point gap.