Indian men's volleyball team beat South Korea to stay in race for 5th place at Asian Games 2026
India will now face Qatar or Thailand in the final classification match.
A day after a quarter-final loss ended their medal hopes at the Asian Games 2026, the Indian men’s volleyball team beat a side ranked 23 places above them.
On Friday, India defeated South Korea 3-1 (25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23) in the 5th-8th place classification match at the Okazaki Central Park Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
India are 48th in the world, and Korea are 25th. Next, India will face either Qatar or Thailand in a bid to finish fifth.
Thursday had been a different story. Pakistan, ranked 38th, beat India 0-3 (19-25, 23-25, 18-25) in an hour and 22 minutes, extending India’s 40-year wait for an Asian Games medal.
The last one was a bronze in 1986. Head coach Dragan Mihailovic said four starters did not play, though he did not name them or say why.
India had topped their group unbeaten, beating Vietnam, Hong Kong and Qatar. Their only other Asian Games medals in the sport are a bronze in 1958 and a silver in 1962.
RELATED: Indian men’s volleyball team knocked out after quarter-final loss to Pakistan at Asian Games 2026
How did India take control against South Korea?
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India dominated the opening set. Korea made frequent unforced errors and struggled to handle India’s serves, allowing the hosts to take the set 25-16.
In the second, Korea started well after some errors from India’s side, but India’s blocks and strong serves turned it around. India moved ahead 11-10, stretched their lead to 18-15 and held their nerve to close out the set 25-20.
Korea did not give in. They won the third set 25-23 after trailing 18-19. In the fourth, India led 17-14, but Korea came back from 21-23 down to level at 23-23. A Korean service error, followed by Jeong Han-yong sending his attack wide, handed India the set — and with it, the match.
Who won the India vs South Korea men’s volleyball match at the Asian Games 2026?
India won 3-1 (25-16, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23) in the 5th-8th place classification match at the Okazaki Central Park Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. India are ranked 48th in the world and Korea 25th.
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