Vietnam’s men’s volleyball team suffered a 3-0 defeat to India in their opening match at the 2026 Asian Games, leaving Federico Rampazzo’s side looking to bounce back in their remaining Group C fixtures.

Vietnam entered the match with determination and kept the contest tight in the opening set. India, however, proved more effective at crucial moments, using their attacking power and strength at the net to edge the set 25-23.

Vietnam continued to put up a fight in the second set. Ngoc Thuan delivered several powerful attacks, while Dinh Van Phuong, Dinh Van Duy and Duy Tuyen also contributed at the net as the Vietnamese side sought to keep pace with their opponents.

Service errors proved costly, however, with Vietnam committing six in the second set. India took advantage to win 25-21 and move within one set of victory.

Vietnam needed to win the third set to keep the match alive but soon found themselves under pressure. India established a six-point advantage at several stages, forcing coach Rampazzo to call timeouts as his players tried to halt their opponents’ momentum.

Despite efforts from Ngoc Thuan and his teammates to close the gap, India remained composed and took the third set 25-20, sealing a 3-0 victory.

The defeat leaves Vietnam with work to do in Group C, where they are competing alongside India, Qatar and Hong Kong (China).

The men’s volleyball competition at the 20th Asian Games features 16 teams divided into four groups. Vietnam are aiming to advance beyond the group stage despite facing a challenging draw.

Following their opening loss to India on September 27, Vietnam face Qatar on September 28 before completing the group stage against Hong Kong on September 29.

Rampazzo’s team will need to improve their attacking efficiency and cut down on errors as they seek their first victory and a place in the next round.

The quarterfinals are scheduled for October 1, followed by the semifinals on October 2. The bronze- and gold-medal matches will take place on October 3.

Thien Binh