South Korea beats Chinese Taipei 3-1 to reach volleyball quarterfinals
South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 3-1 (24-26, 25-10, 25-15, 25-23) at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, securing a spot in the men’s volleyball quarterfinals.
Source: Korea Herald · September 28, 2026 at 3:02 PM · AI-assisted report
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PARK ARENA KOMAKI, KOMAKI, JAPAN, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
South Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 3-1 (24-26, 25-10, 25-15, 25-23) at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Monday, securing a spot in the men’s volleyball quarterfinals.
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Outside hitter Heo Su-bong led the attack with 18 points, while opposite Im Dong-hyeok added 16, as the team extended its unbeaten start to two wins in Pool D.
The victory came after South Korea dropped the opening set, struggling with serve reception, but recovered with strong serving and offensive play in the second and third sets. A late rally in the fourth set proved decisive: Heo’s spike and Lee Sang-hyeon’s block turned a 22-21 deficit into a 23-22 lead, sealing the match despite Chinese Taipei’s fightback.
South Korea will now face China on Tuesday for a chance to top Pool D, where both teams have won their first two matches.
The win marks a return to form for South Korea, which finished seventh at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou after a 14-match medal streak from 1966 to 2018. The team had opened the tournament with a 3-0 victory over the Philippines on Sunday, with Lim Sung-jin topping the scoring with 13 points. Coach Issanaye Ramires’ side will look to build momentum ahead of the quarterfinals, set for Thursday.
South Korea’s path to the podium hinges on Tuesday’s clash with China, the only remaining unbeaten team in Pool D. A win would secure the top spot, while a loss would force a playoff against Chinese Taipei for the second-qualifying berth. The team’s serve reception and defensive consistency remain key areas of focus after early struggles.
The tournament’s top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the quarterfinals, where South Korea will aim to reclaim its status as a volleyball powerhouse in Asia. The team’s performance will be closely watched as it seeks to reverse its 2023 setback and restore its historic dominance in the sport.