Hangzhou, Sep 22: India last won a medal in volleyball in the Asian Games 37 years ago. On Friday, the Indian men’s team set themselves up for a shot at the medals when it defeated Chinese Taipei for their third successive victory in the knockout rounds for the first time in more than three decades.
In a cross-match for the Top 12 positions on Friday, India defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-21 in one hour and 20 minutes at the China Textile City Sports Centre Gymnasium.
It was a great performance by the Indian team as Chinese Taipei had won the bronze medal in the 2018 Games. India will now meet former champions Japan in the quarterfinals. If they win that match, India will get into the semifinals and be in medal contention.
Overall, India has won a silver and two bronze medals in volleyball at the Asian Games, their last medal — a bronze — coming at Seoul in 1986.
In the 19th Asian Games here, India had started with a 3-0 win against Cambodia and then stunned South Korea, silver medallist in the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018, 3-2 in their second match. That set them up for a match against Chinese Taipei who had finished second in Pool D after losing to Pakistan 3-0 and beating Mongolia by the same margin. (IANS)
