Asian Games
Asian Games 2023: Indian men's volleyball team enter quarterfinals
India defeated higher-ranked Chinese Taipei in three straight sets to reach the quarterfinal of the Asian Games 2023.
Indian men's volleyball team after defeating Chinese Taipei in round of 12 of Asian Games 2023.
The Indian men's volleyball team produced a stunning display of form to reach the quarterfinals with a dominant win over higher-ranked Chinese Taipei at the Asian Games in Hangzhou on Friday.
Indian team won the match 25-22, 25-22, 25-21 against Chinese Taipei, ranked thirty places above the Indian team.
India will play world number five Japan in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Coming on the back of a stunning win against 2018 Asiad medallist South Korea, the Indian team was wrong-footed by Chinese Taipei, who took a 21-17 lead.
However, India fought their way back to a come-from-behind 25-22 win to claim the first set.
In the second set, India retained their momentum and started with a lead of 3-0, but Chinese Taipei managed to draw level at 17-17. India held on to their nerves to win the set 25-22 and gain a 2-0 lead.
Chinese Taipei, however, fought back in the deciding set, and it was 14-14 at one point, but India ran away with the set and match after taking a big lead of 21-18. India would win the set 25-21.
Coach Jaideep praises the boys
Talking about the match, Indian captain Vinit said, "We expected a four-setter as Chinese Taipei are an experienced team but our team played well and we improved on our showing from the last game."
"We did man-to-man marking and nullified their fast game. Our libero Hari Prasad played well and the trio of Erin Verghese, Ashwal Rai, and Amit Gulia did well," he added.
This was Chinese Taipei's second defeat in the Asian Games. They earlier lost 3-0 to Pakistan in the group stage. India head coach Jaideep Sarkar said Pakistan's victory had made his boys confident of a win, especially when they were coming on the back of a win against the Koreans.
"I was expecting them to win this match as Pakistan also had defeated them and we were coming on the back of a morale-boosting win against South Korea," Jaideep said.
India will now have to negotiate a stern test in the quarterfinals against Japan, the top-ranked Asian team. But Jaideep is unfazed by the challenge.
"We have to play Japan now and after these two wins, I am confident that we will give them a fight. We are playing well and will look to continue this momentum," Jaideep signed off.
