India rally from 0-2 down to beat Qatar 3-2 and top Pool C at Asian Games 2026

India's men's volleyball team recovered from 0-2 down to defeat Qatar 3-2 in their final Pool C match at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on September 29, 2026, securing top spot in the group and progression to the quarter-finals. The win completed a perfect group stage for India, who finished with three victories from three matches.

Qatar took the early initiative, but India entered the match having already beaten Vietnam 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-20) and Hong Kong China 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-21) in Pool C. Head coach Dragan Mihailović oversaw the side as they attempted to recover after falling behind by two sets. India ended the group stage with nine points; Qatar finished second with six, Vietnam third with three and Hong Kong China with none.

The first set swung late: the score reached 23-23, Qatar saved a set point to make it 24-24, India had two subsequent set chances but could not convert, and Qatar closed out the opener 28-26. The second set remained tight and went 27-25 to Qatar, which left India one set from elimination.

India responded in the third set, winning 25-23 to pull a set back. They then extended the comeback by taking the fourth set 25-20 to level the match at 2-2 and force a deciding set.

In the fifth set India held their nerve and prevailed 24-22 to complete the turnaround and clinch the match 3-2. Across the five sets India scored 125 points to Qatar's 120; Qatar's two set victories were both by two points, while India won the third and fifth by two points each and the fourth by five.

India's progress from Pool C means they and Qatar are the two teams advancing from the group stage. India have previously won three Asian Games volleyball medals—bronze in 1958, silver in 1962 and bronze in 1986—and finished sixth at Hangzhou 2023.

The quarter-finals are scheduled for October 1, when the teams advancing from the pools will contest the knockout stage.