Pakistan beat India 3-0 in Asian Games 2026 quarter-final; players erupt in celebration

Pakistan’s men’s volleyball team defeated India 3-0 in the Asian Games 2026 quarter-final at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium on October 1, securing a 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 victory. The Pakistan players broke into exuberant celebrations after the final whistle.

Pakistan entered the match ranked 39th in the FIVB world rankings and had finished as Pool A runners-up. India arrived unbeaten from the group stage and were described as slight favourites, having beaten Vietnam and Hong Kong 3-0 and recovered from 0-2 down to beat Qatar 3-2. The loss continued a recent pattern between the sides: this was the second consecutive Asian Games edition in which India lost to Pakistan, with Pakistan also winning 3-0 in the men’s volleyball quarter-final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The Green Shirts dominated the opening set, taking it 25-19 in 23 minutes after starting the match on the front foot. That set established Pakistan’s early control of the contest.

The second set saw India briefly take a 16-13 lead before Pakistan levelled at 19-19 and closed out the set 25-23; the set lasted 34 minutes. India’s fightback earlier in the set kept the match competitive until Pakistan’s late run.

In the third set Pakistan moved ahead to an 8-4 lead and then extended their advantage to win 25-18 in 25 minutes, completing the straight-sets victory. The result sealed Pakistan’s place in the tournament semi-finals.

Celebrations were visibly intense at full-time: Murad Khan punched the air and then performed the ‘sujood’—prostrating and touching the ground with his forehead—alongside teammates, while setter Hamid Yazman bumped shoulders with a member of the Pakistani staff. Footage of the team’s celebrations circulated after the match.

Pakistan will face Iran in the men’s volleyball semi-finals on October 2.