Okazaki, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s wait for a first Asian Games medal in men’s volleyball since 1986 continued after Pakistan defeated them in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games on Thursday.
Pakistan secured a 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 victory at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium to book a place in the semifinals. The result also secured Pakistan’s first top-four finish in men’s volleyball at the Asian Games in 64 years.
The opening set remained closely contested early on, with the teams level at 11-11. Pakistan then produced a five-point run to move 16-11 ahead and maintained the advantage to take the set 25-19.
India appeared to be in control in the second set when they established a 19-16 lead. However, a series of errors allowed Pakistan to fight back and take the set 25-23, leaving India two sets down.
Pakistan maintained control for much of the third set and completed the victory 25-18 to seal their place in the last four.
India had entered the knockout stage unbeaten after topping Pool C with three wins. They began with a 3-0 victory over Vietnam and followed it with another 3-0 win against Hong Kong China.
In their final pool match, India staged a remarkable comeback against Qatar after losing the opening two sets. They won the match 3-2, prevailing 26-28, 25-27, 25-23, 25-20, 24-22 to finish top of the pool.
The defeat continues India’s difficult recent record against Pakistan at the Asian Games. Pakistan defeated India 3-0 in the fifth-place classification match at Hangzhou 2023, while India had finished sixth. Pakistan had also beaten India 3-1 at Jakarta 2018.
India have won three men’s volleyball medals at the Asian Games — silver at Jakarta 1962 and bronze at Tokyo 1958 and Seoul 1986.
Pakistan have one Asian Games medal in men’s volleyball, a bronze won at Jakarta 1962, the same edition in which India claimed silver.
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