Pakistan Crush India 3-0 to Reach Asian Games Volleyball Semi-Finals
OKAZAKI, JAPAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan produced a dominant performance to defeat arch-rivals India 3-0 in the men’s volleyball quarter-final at the 2026 Asian Games on Thursday, securing a place in the semi-finals.
Playing at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium, Pakistan controlled the contest from the opening stages and completed the victory in straight sets.
Pakistan took the opening set 25-19, establishing early control through an effective attack and strong play at the net.
India offered greater resistance in the second set and remained within striking distance during the closing stages. Pakistan, however, maintained their composure to edge the set 25-23 and move within one set of the semi-finals.
The Green Shirts then produced another commanding performance in the third set.
Pakistan pulled away from their rivals and secured the set 25-18, completing a comprehensive straight-sets victory and ending India’s hopes of progressing to the medal rounds.
The quarter-final lasted around one hour and 20 minutes, with Pakistan winning 75 total points compared with India’s 60.
Pakistan held a significant advantage in attack, recording 50 successful spikes from 83 attempts, compared with India’s 33 from 81.
The Green Shirts also performed strongly at the net, registering six successful blocks compared with four for India.
The victory marks Pakistan’s second consecutive Asian Games win over India in men’s volleyball after also defeating their rivals at the previous edition.
More significantly, Pakistan have reached the Asian Games men’s volleyball semi-finals for the first time since 1962, when the country won bronze in Jakarta.
Pakistan will now face the winner of the quarter-final between South Korea and defending champions Iran for a place in the gold-medal match.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday, with the gold and bronze medal matches set for Saturday.
