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, 25-18, 25-21 to secure the straight-set win they needed to keep their chances alive.

How can India qualify for quarterfinals?

The top eight teams from the overall standings from the 12-team tournament advance to the quarter-finals.

India currently sit in 8th place behind Chinese Taipei, who have three points and a superior set ratio, but the final standings will be determined after Oman and Bahrain meet on September 9.

If Oman win their match 3-0 or 3-1, they will enter the top eight and knock out India, but in any other scenario India will qualify for the last 8.

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 the 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 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.