Indian men's volleyball team knocked out after quarter-final loss to Pakistan at Asian Games 2026
India lost in three sets.
Pakistan beat India in straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-18) in the men’s volleyball quarter-final at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi, Japan, on Thursday morning.
The result ends India’s hopes of winning a medal in this event for the first time in 40 years. India last reached the podium at Seoul 1986, where they won bronze.
Murad Khan was the difference-making player. He scored 19 points for Pakistan and landed 18 of his 33 spikes. India’s best scorer, Ashwal Rai, finished with nine.
Going into the match, Indian captain Jerome Vinith had completed 69 spikes in the tournament, the most on either side, with Murad on 48. On the day, Murad was far sharper.
Pakistan took the opening set 25-19. The score was level at 8-8, but Pakistan pulled clear. At 11-14, India’s coach Dragan Mihailovic called a time-out, but the gap kept growing. In that set, Pakistan landed 17 of 24 spikes, while India landed 11 of 29.
Why did India fall short?
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India’s best chance came in the second set. They led 14-13, then 16-13 and 18-16, but Pakistan levelled at 19-19. India saved a set point, yet Pakistan won the set 25-23.
Pakistan took control in the third set, leading 8-4 and later 22-14, before India saved a couple of match points. An Ashwal Rai smash then found the net, sealing the set for Pakistan at 25-18.
Pakistan’s numbers were better across the board. They landed 50 of 83 spikes against India’s 33 of 81. Match stats also show Pakistan ahead in blocks (20% to 10%) and digs (39% to 25%). Digs are saves that stop the ball from hitting the floor.
India topped Pool C with wins over Vietnam (3-0), Hong Kong (3-0) and Qatar (3-2, after losing the opening couple of sets). Pakistan finished second in Pool A and, as World No. 39, were ranked nine places above India. They had also beaten India 3-0 at Hangzhou 2022 and 3-1 at Jakarta 2018.
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Pakistan’s last top-four finish at the Asian Games came 64 years ago. India’s last came 40 years ago.
India have won three Asian Games men’s volleyball medals: silver at Jakarta 1962, and bronze at Tokyo 1958 and Seoul 1986. Pakistan have one, a bronze from Jakarta 1962.
What was the result of the India vs Pakistan men’s volleyball quarter-final?
Pakistan won in straight sets in Aichi, Japan, on Thursday morning. They took the first set 25-19 and the second 25-23, then won the third with 25-18 to book a place in the semi-finals. India’s campaign is over
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