BENGALURU: Ahmedabad Defenders lost in straight sets on their Volleyball Club World Championships debut here on Wednesday, but the numbers - 25-22, 25-23, 25-19 in favour of Brazil's Itambe Minas - do not tell the entire story.
In the Pool A contest at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium, Ahmedabad ran their rivals close in each of the three sets before going down fighting. The reigning Prime Volleyball League champions must be lauded for keeping the Brazilian powerhouse on their toes, given the hurdles they faced in the lead-up to the global tournament.