A clash of heads between two Turkish volleyball players was not enough to keep them out of the game, despite the accident leaving both with nasty looking injuries.

Turkey's women were taking on the contingent from the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) when Canzu Ozbay and Meliha Ismailoglu both went to dive for the ball on their side of the court and bounced off each other's heads.

Ozbay was at the front of the court when the ball looped over her head.

She turned quickly to save the play without realising that Ismailoglu was leaping forward from behind at the same time.

Cansu Ozbay was left bloodied by the collision with her teammate Meliha Ismailoglu (
Image:
REUTERS)
The Turkish duo clashed with one another during the match (
Image:
REUTERS)

Their teammates and the squad's medics were quickly on the scene. Ozbay came off worse from the impact and was visibly distressed and bloodied around the mouth.

Ismailoglu also held her mouth in pain but appeared to avoid any major cuts.

Both competitors soldiered on in spite of the hefty knock after some treatment.

Both players compete domestically in the Turkish volleyball league and were part of the national team who won silver at the 2019 European Championship.

Turkey went on to win the contest 3-2 despite the injuries and had already qualified for the quarter finals of the competition.

Having defeated the heavily favoured Chinese team 3-0 in their opening match, the Turkish squad were defeated by Italy and the USA before responding well with another 3-0 win against Argentina before today's match.

The race for the gold medal is more open than ever after reigning champions China were unexpectedly knocked out at the pool stage and Team USA struggling in the absence of breakout star Jordan Thompson.

Brazil are the only unbeaten side left in the competition after beating Serbia 3-1.

The quarter finals take place on Wednesday.

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