The duo recovered from a set down to defeat Alireza Aghajanighasab and Javad Firouzpourbandpei at a purpose-built stadium in Tangshan as their greater power gradually overwhelmed their opponents.

“It was really hard, Iran played really well and good tactics, they played in the middle and then I was running to block and then they were playing to the back so it was really hard," said Samoilovs, whose elder brother Aleksandrs is the current world number six.

"For me it’s the first time to play in such temperature. 

"I’m two metres tall and 85kg, it’s not enough, so in this heat, my body is not following my moves. 

"But after the first set we calmed down a little bit and started playing more clever."

The Latvian duo, winners of the bronze medal at the 2016 Under-19 World Championships in Larnaka, now face Spain’s Jimenez Gutierrez and Alejandro Huerta Pastor for a place in the last four at the International Volleyball Federation-organised event.

Mexico’s Josue Gaston Gaxiola Leyva took a huge stride towards replicating his 2016 silver medal elsewhere in the men's draw as he and new partner Jose Angel Cardenas Valdez progressed comfortably.

They defeated Germany’s Julius Thole and Lukas Pfretzschner 21-17, 21-11.

They will next face star lucky losers Austria’s Moritz Fabian Kindl and Marian Klaffinger after they had ousted Dutch team Mees Blom and Ruben Penninga, 21-14, 21-18.

Americans Kathryn Plummer and Milica Mirkovic were among those to impress in the women's draw today after defeating Thailand’s reigning Asian Under-21 champions Pawarun Chanthawichai and Thatsarida Singchuea.

The strength of the US duo proved too much in a 21-13, 21-12 success.

Canadian twin sisters Megan and Nicole McNamara now lie in wait in the quarter-finals.

Last eight clashes are scheduled for tomorrow across both draws.