Asian women's Volleyball Championship 2023: India defeat Australia, finish historic seventh

India won a total of two matches in the 22nd edition of the competition

Indian women’s Volleyball team won their final match against higher ranked Australia (3-2) and finished seventh at the Asian women’s Volleyball Championship 2023. This is India’s best finish at the championships – finished seventh at the 1979 edition as well but only seven teams participated.

The tournament started on a bright note for the Indian team, winning the opening encounter against Iran (3-1). However, in the following group stage match India were hammered down by Asian giants Japan (0-3). A win the pool stages was enough for India to qualify for the next round. Up next in the classification rounds, the South Asian side was grouped alongside China, Japan and Kazakhstan.

With India having already played Japan, they were up against the likes of China and Kazakhstan. The fortunes never turned in India’s favour as they suffered two straight defeats to China and Kazakhstan in straight sets. This ended the team’s hopes of progressing further as they finished last, but had opportunity to finish as high as possible in the position matches.

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In the first (5th-8th) classification match, the WR-63 side lost to higher seed South Korea. The blue colts now had to contend for seventh spot. As things turned out in the final day, India beat WR-63 Australia (3-2) to finish historic seventh. India lost the first set in the final encounter against Australia but made quick recovery to win the next two sets. Australia did not stop either who came back to win the fourth set.

The deciding set unlike the first four is played only for 15 points and Indian comprehensively got the better of Oceania side (15-10). After starting Asian women’s Volleyball Championship 2023 with a win, India concluded on a positive note and this should boost their confidence ahead of Hangzhou Asian Games.

A total of 14 teams participated in the Asian Championship with the winner receiving an automatic entry for World Volleyball Championship 2025.