Asian Games 2026: India saves nine match points to beat higher-ranked Qatar ahead of men’s volleyball quarterfinals
FILE PHOTO: India is being led by Tamil Nadu’s Jerome Vinith. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
FILE PHOTO: India is being led by Tamil Nadu’s Jerome Vinith. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
India came back from two sets down and saved nine match points to beat Qatar 3-2 (26-28, 25-27, 25-23, 25-20, 24-22) at Park Arena Komaki in Japan on Tuesday.
With this win, the Jerome Vinith-led team topped Pool C with three wins from as many games and advanced to the quarterfinals.
The Indian team is hoping to end a 40-year medal drought at the Asiad, eyeing its first podium finish since it won bronze in South Korea in 1986. The side has two other medals to its name: a bronze in 1958 and a silver in 1962.
Against higher-ranked Qatar, which is 43rd in the world, India, ranked 49th, began well. However, the Qataris took the set to a tiebreak and eventually took the lead in the match after 34 minutes.
Qatar, a three-time semifinalist at the Asiad, carried the momentum into the second set as well, but India managed to save two set points. The Renan Ribeiro-led Qatar team, however, bagged a 2-0 lead after a 35-minute set.
India, however, converted its first set point in the third set to keep itself in the contest. It looked a different side in the fourth set, earning four set points and converting the first to force a decider.
The fifth and final set saw India make a flying start, clinching three consecutive points. But Qatar came back strongly and got its first match point at 14-13. Jerome’s spike brought India level.
After saving six match points, India thought it had bagged its first match point. But a review revealed infringements on both sides of the net, prompting the point to be replayed.
Three more match points were saved before India finally earned its first. It converted the opportunity to end the 167-minute marathon clash.
Published on Sep 29, 2026
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