Indian women spikers qualify for the quarterfinals after thrashing Maldives 3-0 while their men counterparts went down fighting against last edition silver winners Iran in their final preliminary round match of the volleyball competition at the Asian Games here on Friday.

The Indian women had finished last in the four-team pool A after losing all their three preliminary round matches but earned a quarterfinal play-off chance against Maldives who had also ended at the bottom of five-team pool B.

In the play-off, the Indians hardly broke a sweat as they won 25-12 25-7 25-11 in the 54-minute contest at Ansan Sangroksu Gymnasium here.

Mariyam Azeefa was the highest scorer with seven points, of which he got five from spike and one each from block and service. The Indian women now run into defending champions China tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Indian men spikers, who have already advanced to the next round (Play-off Group stage) after winning their earlier two matches, lost 22-25 22-25 18-25 against their more fancied opponents in a 71-minute Group C preliminary round contest.

For India, Lavmeet Katariya won the maximum points of 11, out of which he scored nine from spike, one from block and two from service.

For Iran, Mahmoudi Shahram was the top-scorer with 20 points, out of which he scored 19 from spike and one from block. India play their Play-off Group E match on September 28.

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