India's game came together to a nicety in their last match of the Military World Games volleyball tournament on Saturday. Bronze medal was the result as the hosts nullified Qatar's threat with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 win at the Yousufguda indoor stadium.

India finished with one win and two losses in the four-team super league. China battled past South Korea 26-24, 25-15, 25-20 to claim the gold, having won all their matches. Korea took the silver with two wins and a loss.
Skipper Shijas Mohammed was the star of the Indian show though Sharath and C K Dinesh weren't too far behind, producing thumping winners to break the Qatari spirit at crucial moments. Arun Jakhmola, the libero who had disappointed in the previous match against China, also rose to the occasion, bolstering the Indian defence with some fine retrieving.

The teams level-pegged till 15-all in the first set before India pulled away to 22-16, with Shijas and Rahul Singh breaching the Qatari defence repeatedly. Eagerness to finish it off led to errors as Qatar closed down the margin, but R Mathew came up with a fine winner as India pocketed the first set.

Qatar showed signs of revival in the second set, jumping to an 8-3 lead, with their captain Taha Mohammed doing the damage early. But Shijas helped the Indians rally and they edged ahead at 10-9. Qatari substitute Nabeel Al Safadi did keep them in the hunt for a while but India never relinquished the lead from that point.
India were in control right through the third set and when Sharath Kumar thumped the ball down the middle for a winner at match point, it was celebration time for the hosts and the strong holiday crowd.