RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's national volleyball team boosted its chances of reaching the AVC Men's Cup 2026 semifinals after battling past Thailand 3-2 (19-25, 25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 15-10) in a crucial Group B match in Ahmedabad, India, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

The victory marked the team's second win of the tournament following a dramatic 3-2 comeback against Qatar, helping the squad recover from its opening straight-sets defeat to South Korea.

Assistant coach Nur Widayanto praised the players for overcoming fatigue after another demanding five-set contest.

“Thailand had an advantage because Indonesia played five sets the day before. But this was a match of pride, and the players kept fighting despite their exhaustion,” Nur said in an official statement, as quoted by Antara.

Indonesia struggled in the opening set as its middle blockers failed to make a significant impact. The coaching staff responded by adjusting the rotation in the second set, moving Ahmad Gumilar to the back row and bringing Hendra Kurniawan forward.

The tactical change proved effective and was maintained through the remainder of the match. “That strategy worked well. Our middle blockers contributed points through blocks and attacks,” Nur added.

After leveling the match, Indonesia took control by winning the third set. Thailand forced a decider after capitalizing on Indonesian service errors in the fourth set.

However, the Indonesian side remained composed in the fifth set, maintaining a crucial lead before sealing the victory 15-10. Farhan Halim, Alfin Daniel, Ahmad Gumilar, Hendra Kurniawan, Fauzan Nibran, and Boy Arnez Arabi played key roles in the win.

Indonesia will face Oman on Friday in its final Group B match, with a place in the semifinals still on the line. ***