Volleyball
AVC Men's Volleyball C'ship 2026: India lose to Iran in second group match
This was the second consecutive straight-set defeat for the Indian men's team.
India lose to Iran at AVC Men's Volleyball Championship 2026. (Photo Credits: Volleyball World)
The Indian men's volleyball team faced its second consecutive defeat at the 2026 AVC Men's Volleyball C'ship, losing to Iran in Fukuoka, Japan, on Sunday.
The Indian team faced a 20-25, 26-28, 18-25 defeat to the 4-time champions Iran and dropped to fourth place in the group stage, making it tougher to qualify for the second stage.
The top 8 teams from the overall standings of the 12-team tournament will qualify for the knockout stage.
India’s tough campaign in Japan continued as they once again failed to win a single set against powerhouse Iran, who displayed strong defensive play to shut down the Indian attackers.
The Iranian side recorded 16 precise blocks, including five from middle blocker Mohammad Valizadeh, while India managed only five throughout the match.
Similar to their previous encounter against China, India had their opportunities, leading 22-19 in the second set, but were forced into deuce and were unable to convert.
The team will next face New Zealand in a must-win final group match on Tuesday. India may need a straight-sets victory over New Zealand to keep their chances of progressing alive.