Tokyo, Sept. 14 (SANA)Japan retained the Asian men’s volleyball title after defeating Iran 3-0 in the final of the 2026 AVC Men’s Volleyball Asian Championship on Sunday.

Japanwon 25-21, 26-24, 25-23, with captain Yuki Ishikawa delivering the match-winning point and Ran Takahashi named tournament MVP.The victory secured Japan a quota spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, making it the first men’s volleyball team other than host United States to qualify for the Games.

Japan will head to Los Angeles seeking its first Olympic men’s volleyball medal in 56 years. Its hopes at Paris 2024 ended in the quarter-finals against Italy after Japan surrendered a two-set lead and four match points.

“We can definitely do it,” Takahashi told Olympics.com of Japan’s medal ambitions, stressing the need for the team to remain united in pursuit of its Olympic goal.