Pakistan Beat China 3–0 to Win Asian Games Volleyball Bronze After 64-Year Wait

NAGOYA, Japan (Nazrana Times Sports Desk): Pakistan’s men’s volleyball team produced a commanding performance to defeat China 3–0 in the bronze medal match at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, ending a 64-year wait for an Asian Games medal in the sport.

Playing at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Pakistan controlled the contest from the opening set and completed a straight-sets victory by 25–18, 25–16, 25–18 in just 67 minutes.

The bronze is Pakistan’s first Asian Games medal in men’s volleyball since the team won bronze at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games.

Pakistan Dominate in Straight Sets

Pakistan made a confident start, taking control of the opening set and winning it 25–18.

The Green Shirts raised the pressure further in the second set, combining powerful attacking play with disciplined defence to register a convincing 25–16 win.

Pakistan maintained their momentum in the third set and sealed it 25–18, completing an impressive 3–0 victory over China.

Murad Khan led Pakistan’s scoring with 18 points, while Afaq Khan and Ali Usman Faryad contributed 14 points each. Musawer Khan added eight points, while Mohammad Hamad and Hamid Yazman scored three points apiece.

Pakistan’s Road to Bronze

Pakistan opened their Asian Games campaign with a 3–1 victory over Kazakhstan before defeating Uzbekistan 3–0 to secure their place in the knockout stage with a match to spare.

Their first defeat came in the final pool match, when hosts Japan registered a 3–0 victory.

Pakistan responded strongly in the quarter-finals, defeating traditional rivals India in straight sets. They won the match 25–19, 25–23, 25–18 to advance to the semi-finals.

In the last four, Pakistan faced three-time defending champions Iran, who won the contest 3–0 and ended Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the gold-medal match.

Pakistan then produced a convincing response in the bronze medal playoff, overcoming China 3–0 to secure a historic podium finish.

China Finish Fourth

The defeat left China in fourth place. China entered the bronze medal contest ranked 34th in the world, compared with Pakistan at 39th, but Pakistan controlled the match and did not allow their opponents to win a set.

Pakistan’s Medal Tally Reaches Eight

The volleyball bronze took Pakistan’s overall medal tally at the Games to eight medals — two silver and six bronze.

Meanwhile, Iran won the men’s volleyball gold medal after defeating hosts Japan in the final.

Match Result

Pakistan 3–0 China
Set scores: 25–18, 25–16, 25–18
Venue: Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium, Aichi Prefecture

Match duration: 67 minutes