(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Ran Takahashi Stars as Japan Defeat Poland in Volleyball Nations League Thriller
LINYI, China — Japan delivered a major upset in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026 after defeating Poland in a five-set thriller, with star outside hitter Ran Takahashi playing a key role in the victory.
Japan won the match 3–2 (25–21, 21–25, 25–21, 22–25, 17–15), ending Poland’s strong run and causing a shift in the FIVB world rankings.
Takahashi led Japan with a match-high 26 points, including powerful spikes and crucial points in the deciding set. His performance proved decisive as Japan edged out the defending champions in a closely fought contest.
Japan’s attack was supported by Kento Miyaura, who contributed 16 points, and Tatsunori Otsuka, who added 15. Middle blocker Akihiro Yamauchi also made an impact with key blocks.
Poland responded strongly in blocking, outperforming Japan in that area, with notable performances from Bartłomiej Lemański and Michał Gierżot. However, it was not enough to secure the win.
Following the result, Japan improved their position in the standings, while Poland dropped after back-to-back defeats in the tournament.
Türkiye Shock France in Straight Sets
In another major result, Türkiye produced a strong performance to defeat France 3–0 (25–23, 27–25, 25–21) in Ottawa, Canada.
Opposite hitter Adis Lagumdzija led Türkiye with 20 points, supported by Gökcen Yüksel, who added 11 points. France’s top scorer was Stephen Boyer with 16 points.
The victory marked Türkiye’s first win of the season, while France suffered a second consecutive defeat in the competition.
The latest results have tightened the standings in the Volleyball Nations League as teams continue their battle for qualification and ranking points.
