India beat New Zealand 3-0 to keep AVC Volleyball C'ship quarter-final hopes alive

India kept their quarter-final hopes alive at the 2026 AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental Championship with a 3-0 victory over New Zealand in Kitakyushu, Japan, on Tuesday.

The win was India’s first of the tournament after successive straight-set defeats to China and Iran. India finished Pool B with one win, two losses and three points, leaving their quarter-final qualification dependent on results in the other pools.

India defeated New Zealand 25-22, 25-22, 25-21 to secure the clean sweep they needed. Some reports have listed the second set as 25-18.

How can India qualify for quarterfinals?

The top two teams from each of the three pools, along with the two best third-placed teams, advance to the quarter-finals. With direct qualification from Pool B no longer possible, India must now finish among the two best third-placed sides.

India currently sit behind Chinese Taipei, who have three points and a superior set ratio. The third-placed team from Pool A will also be determined after Oman and Bahrain meet on September 9. The remaining pool matches will decide whether India's record is sufficient to progress.

India had opened their campaign with a 0-3 loss to China before suffering another 0-3 defeat against Iran. Iran and China, both unbeaten, will face each other for top spot in Pool B on Wednesday.

The result comes after India won bronze at the 2026 AVC Men’s Volleyball Cup in Ahmedabad in June, their first medal in the competition.

India also reached the semi-finals of the 2026 AVC Cup and entered this championship as CAVA zone representatives after finishing runners-up in the 2025 CAVA Nations League.

India’s best-ever finish at the Continental Championship remains fourth in 2005, while their last quarter-final appearance came in 2013.