IND vs JPN, HIGHLIGHTS Volleyball Asian Games: India loses 3-0 to Japan, to play 5-6 place playoff match later

India will play the 5th-6th place playoff against the loser of the Pakistan vs Qatar match on Tuesday (September 26).

India tried to delay the loss but Japan was comfortable in handing them a straight-set win. The win also takes Japan to the semifinal where it will play against China.

Japan is on the brink of a win over India as it deals with professional to continue with lead growing lead and now it only requires just two points to wrap things up.

Japan is doing what it is best at. Running away with the lead in crunch situations. It took five points in succession to almost kill any outside chance that India would have thought.

Spiker Amit with an attack point followed by a brilliant serve from Ashwal Rai, which fetched India two points as it cut the lead and it’s now a one-point game for Japan.

A couple of block errors and a team error from India put Japan in the lead by three points.

LM Manoj gives India a point in attack to restore parity at 12-all.

Ashwal Rai, Erin Varghese and Muthusamy Appavu take points for India but constant errors in defence is proving costly. Japan in lead now.

Shameemudheen with a dig error and the score remains eight-all.

The Indian team looks much more determined as it continuously takes points but dropping points has been an issue. It leads by one point, nonetheless, they are looking better than before.

Muthusamy Appavu and Ashwal Rai get points for India before it makes an error as Japan restores parity.

The combination is still the same but Erin Varghese gets India a point via spike this time to make it one-all.

Takahiro Namba with the serve for Japan. Erin Varghese makes an error while attempting a spike as Japan yet again starts with a point.

Japan with an easy finish as it wins the second set too, without any difficulties. India needs to win the last three sets if it wants to qualify for the semifinals.

The inability to create and hold pressure against experienced Japan is proving to be costly for team India. Japan once again inches closer to a set win.

India looks better after the time out as it manages to take a few points back. However, Japan still leads by four points.

Japan looks no match for India as it extends its lead to four points before India takes time out.

Both sides trade blows, but India manages to cut short the lead by a point. Japan still leads by two points.

India started to lose the plot once again. After an attacking start, the Indians are giving it away to Japan as it comes in the lead once again.

Amit with a point in attack in spike before Japan took three points to get in the lead. Five all at the moment.

There comes a morale-boosting phase for India as it takes four consecutive points to get in lead.

Japan starts with the way it ended the last set. Two points straight away.

The second set starts now. India will need to step up its game otherwise it’ll be too late too little for the team in rise.

India delays the inevitable, only by a point but Japan finally wins the first set comprehensively 25-16.

Guru Prasanth makes an error followed by a miscalculated spike attempt as Japan gets the set-point.

Erin Varghese spikes for India. 15-22 now.

India takes the time out now.

Shameemudheen errors in attack and the lead continues to grow larger.

A Time out taken by Japan to slow down the game. They are cruising at the moment.

Erin Varghese gets the next two points for India but Japan took as many points in this duration to inch closer to the set win.

Shameemudheen gets a block point for India before Asano Kento concedes a point via service error. Two back-to-back points for India.

The streak continues as India takes a point only after Japan made an error in serve. They took three points before leading by nine points.

India is relying on Japan’s error to get points here. A service error this time fetches a point to India.

Make it an eight-point lead for Japan as team India makes an error in the defence. 8-16 at the moment.

India is succumbing under pressure. Japan with another four consecutive points before Akihiro Fukatso makes an error in serve.

Finally a point for India in the attack. Guru Prasanth spiked for India to break the streak.

Japan is flying away, extending their lead to five points. Four back-to-back points for the No. one Asian team.

Amit and Muthusamy got two points back for India after Japan extended its lead to three points. A one-point game for Japan at the moment.

Vinit Kumar is the spiker to get India a point before Muthusamy Appavu digs an error in defence.

Ashwal Rai is the busy man in the court as he makes a couple of mistakes before taking a point back with a timely spike.

Japan gets the serve, Amit’s spike gives India its second point to restore parity.

Muthusamy Appavu on the serve for India, he makes a mistake in the rebound as Japan takes its lead back.

Namba Takahiro makes an error in serve as India gets its first point in this set.

Namba Takahiro serves for Japan, and Amit makes an error in the attack to gift a point to Japan.

We are moments away from the live action.

Beat Cambodia 3-0

Beat South Korea 3-2

Beat Chinese Taipei 3-0

India will take on Japan in the men’s volleyball top 6 classification match on September 24 at 12 PM IST.

The match would be streamed LIVE on the SonyLiv app/website and broadcast on Sony Sports Network.

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s Live coverage of the India vs Japan Asian Games 2023 Top 6 classification match. Stay tuned as we bring you all the live updates as it unfolds in Hangzhou.