India pooled with Iran, Maldives

India have entered both the men’s and women’s team events in the volleyball competition of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, September.

While the men’s team is grouped with Hong Kong, Maldives and 2010 silver medallists Iran in Group C, the women are drawn to play against hosts South Korea — silver medal winners four years ago — Japan and Thailand in Group A.

The men had made it to the quarterfinals in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou before losing to Thailand. The women had finished 9th out of 11 teams, just above Maldives and Tajikistan.

Indian men spikers have won three medals, two bronze and a silver, previously in the Asian Games, while the women have drawn a blank.

Indian men clinched the bronze in the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, where volleyball made its debut, and then improved it to a silver finish four years later at Jakarta — losing to then Asian powerhouse Japan in the final.

The last Asian Games medal — a bronze was grabbed by the men in 1986 at Seoul, South Korea.
India’s preliminary group matches schedule: Men: Sept 20: v/s Hong Kong; Sept 24: v/s Maldives; Sept 26: v/s Iran

Women: Sept 20: v/s South Korea; Sept 22: v/s Japan; Sept 24: v/s Thailand.