Indian volleyball team eyes Asian Games podium after topping Pool C

India's volleyball team topped Pool C at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games after defeating Vietnam, Hong Kong and Qatar. Former international G V Madhav believes the team's improved combination can help it challenge Pakistan and revive hopes of a podium finish

Hyderabad: Though the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games were in the news for all the wrong reasons, Team India has been accommodated at the Nagoya Marriott and things seem to be looking up. Team India maintained a clean slate and topped Pool C, beating Vietnam 3-0, Hong Kong 3-0 and, in a cracker of a contest, Qatar 3-2.

It was a reverse sweep, as India lost the first two sets before coming back strongly to take the third and fourth sets and win the match, thereby topping Pool C in volleyball, says former international G V Madhav.

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“The inclusion of setter Om Vasant Lad, middle-blocker Shikar Singh and outside hitter Joel Benjamin did the trick for Dragan Mihailovic’s Team India. The fifth set too went to the wire, with Team India winning the match 22-24. For the Camilo Sato-coached Qatar, it was 13-year-old opposite Musa Mubarak, standing 6-foot-11-inch tall, who stood tall with 39 markers, albeit in a losing cause.

“They will play Japan, winners of Group A. Arjuna awardee Amir Singh was among the spectators cheering Team India. Having topped Pool C, Team India will meet the second-placed team in Group A, Pakistan. Come October 1, it will be mayhem at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium,” Madhav explained in a chat with Telangana Today.

“In Murad Khan and Murad Jehan, Pakistan have two players who wear their hearts on their sleeves. How well Team India counters these two players will be top of the agenda for Dragan Mihailovic and the team management. Both the middle-blockers John Joseph and Shikar Singh were good. They played their hearts out when it mattered most. The Pakistan volleyball team is coached by Spanishman Luis Alberto Guiterez,” he said.

“The last time we finished on the podium was four decades ago at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, when we beat Japan to finish third. Our best finish was a silver at the 1962 Jakarta Asiad, where we lost to Japan in the final. At the 1958 Tokyo Games, we finished third. A much-needed rest day tomorrow, history beckons the Jerome Charles-led Team India,” Madhav said.

“Will Aichi Nagoya be a happy hunting ground for Team India? Only time will tell,” signed off the former international from the City.