NAGOYA, Japan – Iran stamped its class once again and beat Japan, 28-26, 19-25, 25-21, 26-14, to capture the gold medal in the men’s volleyball competition at the 20^th Asia Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Despite the absence of several key players on the Japan side, Iran still had to work doubly hard to win the grueling four-set battle before a sizable home crowd.

The win was a sweet redemption of sorts for the Iranian side, which had lost to Japan during the AVC Continental Cup last month.

But it was understandablefor Japan, which fielded its young guns in the absence of six stars who had returned to their mother clubs in Europe. Sorely missed were AVC Continental Cup MVP Ran Takahashi, Yuki Ishikawa, Yuji Nishida, Kento Miyaura, Taishi Onodera and Tomihiro Yamamoto.

As usual, it was Amin Esmaeilnezhad who led Iran’s assault, finishing with 22 points while Ali Haghparast and Morteza Sharifi added 15 and 13 points, respectively, as Iran notched its fourth straight title in the continental showpiece.

Tutsuno Otsuka paced Japan with 24 points.

After being pummeled by Iran in the semis, Pakistan bounced back in style, reducing China to tears by pulling off a surprisingly easy 25-18, 25-16, 25-18 win in their battle for the bronze medal.

The smashing win enabled Pakistan to mirror its 1962 Jakarta Games feat, thanks to the inspired games of Murad Khan, Afaq Khan, and Faryad Ali Usman, who broke China’s defense time and again with their booming spikes.

Murads Khan, who also starred in the team’s morale-boosting win over India in the quarterfinal round, scattered 18 points on 14 hits, 2 aces, and 2 blocks, while Afaq Khan and Usman added 14 points. 

So sharp and focused was Pakistan that it sealed the win after only one hour and five minutes.

Thailand also scored big, but needed five grueling sets before downing the taller India side, 25-19, 17-25, 25-21, 17-25, 17-15, to finish fifth in the 16-nation event.

In a brilliant display of firepower, four Thailand players tallied in double figures with outside hitter Suwit Mahasiriyothin erupting for 25 points, highlighted by 23 hits and 2 aces.

South Korea, Chinese-Taipei and Kazakhstan finished in 7^th, 9^th nd 11th place, respectively, after downing their rivals, with the former overpowering Qatar, 25-20, 25-23, 25-16. 

Chinese outlasted Vietnam, 25-16, 26-28, 25-17, 25-14, to finish 9^th, while Kazakhstan repulsed Indonesia, 23-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-20, and wound up 11^th.

The Philippines – known as Alas Pilipinas Men back home – finished in 13^th place without even sweating it out as supposed opponent – Kyrgyzstan – failed to show up.

So the Philippines will be returning home with two wins, including against Uzbekistan on Friday, 25-19, 25-15, 23-25, 25-17, thanks to the 26 points of Bryan Bagunas.

Uzbekistan salvaged some measure of pride by beating Hong Kong, 31-29, 25-22, 25-22, in the battle for 15^th place. Hong Kong wound up dead last.