China stunned Thailand and Japan beat Vietnam in semifinals to remain unbeaten in Hangzhou
Hangzhou, China, October 6, 2023 – Indomitable China pulled off sensational win over Thailand to face off against Japan in the Saturday’s final clash of the two unbeaten teams in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Women’s Volleyball Competition at Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium.
China, current world No.6, reigning champions and silver medallists at this year’s VNL, stunned world No.13 and Asian Championship title-holders Thailand 3-0, while Japan put it past the fighting Vietnam 3-1 in the Friday’s action-packed semifinals at the packed venue.
In the first semifinal clash on Friday, world No.9 Japan, former five-time Asian Games gold medallists but fielding second-string squad in the Hangzhou Asian Games including seven players who joined the bronze-winning team at the Nakhon Ratchasima-hosted 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Championship in Thailand in September, survived a huge scare from Vietnam to stun the world No.39 in hard-fought four-setter 26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16.
With the dramatic victory, undefeated Japan stormed into the Asian Games final showdown for the first time in 17 years since they last made it at the 2006 Doha Games in Qatar, where they succumbed to a disappointing 1-3 loss to the eventual winners China.
Against the fast-improving Vietnam, winners at the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Championship under the Sport Center 1’s banner and AVC Challenge Cup champions which made their presence felt in this year’s FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in France, the formidable Japanese fought neck and neck to trade attacks and points in the close first set.
Hard-hitting Tanaka Mizuki fired a first-tempo attack to deliver the set point at 24-23 for Japan, but middle blocker Tran Thi Bich Thuy and setter Doan Thi Lam Oanh saved the day for Vietnam with their solid block against an aggressive spike from Tanaka Muzuki. Still, the Japanese outside hitter was unstoppable as she attacked devastatingly to bag two points in a row for the Japan’s hard-fought 26-24 win.
Conceding one set, Vietnam fought hard for a comeback in the second set, but the Japanese shattered the opponents’ high hopes with their exceptional skills including combination attacks and impeccable defense.
The Japanese maintained a margin that varied anywhere from one to three points for a while with their attacking and blocking efforts making the difference. The first time the Japanese widened the gap to four was at 18-14 when outside hitter Miyu Nakagawa and fellow outside hitter Yuki Nishikawa joined forces in overcoming the blockers with their spectacular attacks. Vietnam tried hard to claw their way back into game, but the Japanese held firm to win the thrilling set 25-21.
Determination and will to win paid off impressively for Vietnam in the third set. A fierce battle unfolded with the lead going back and forth. However, as Japan were taking a narrow 21-19 lead, Vietnam started to produce the goods, bouncing back to level it at 21-21 and continued with their fine form to surge ahead 24-22. Middle blocker Haruyo Shimamura hammered a thundering fast spike to save one set point for Japan before Tran Thi Thanh Thuy skippered the determined Vietnamese to the 25-23 win with her powerful mid-court spike.
Japan started the fourth set better and piled up a 9-6 lead. Vietnam gradually recovered and battled hard to catch them, but their attempts at a comeback were definitely denied. As the Vietnamese were hot on their heels to reduce the gap at 16-20, Japan held firm and uncorked a series of combination attacks and well-placed serves to score five points in a row to clinch the set 25-16, match and a final berth.
Japan had five players who reached double digits, with outside hitter Yuki Nishikawa leading the way with 22 points including 20 attacks from 47 attempts. Miyu Nakagawa delivered 14 points from 13 attacks and one ace, while Mizuki Tanaka added another 11 points including 9 kills and middle blocker Haruyo Shimamura and Shion Hirayama scored 10 points apiece. Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh contributed 21 points from 20 kills and one block for Vietnam, while skipper Tran Thi Thanh Thuy added 15 points including 13 from 48 attempts.
In this match, the Japanese dominated in kills (70 to 58), blocks (8 to 7) and aces (4 to 1), but the Vietnamese benefited from more opponent errors (20 to 17).
The second semifinal encounter between hosts China and Thailand was the day’s highlight as it was a rematch of the 2018 Asian Games final in Indonesia. There, in Jakarta, the super star Zhu Ting-led Chinese team overpowered Thailand in straight sets for the Asian Games title. However, the Thai side had already avenged the loss as they stunned the fully-fledged Chinese 3-2 at the last year’s VNL first week Pool 2 in Turkey. Moreover, Thailand added another agony to the China’s same wounds as the Thais, as hosts, narrowly edged past China’s second-string squad 3-2 in the final showdown for their third Asian title on home soil in Nakhon Ratchasima last month.
Against the Southeast Asian powerhouses, China, backed by boisterous home fans inside the pack Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium, fielded a strong lineup with the likes of three players who competed with the gold medal-winning team at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games comprising setter Ding Xia, tall and towering Yuan Xinyue, 202cm, and Gong Xiangyu.
With six key players Yuan Xinyue, Gong Xiangyu, Ding Xia, Li Yingying, Diao Linyu and Wang Mengjie, all of them joined the 2018 Asian Games gold-medallists China, remaining with the team, the hosts’ high hopes of repeating the remarkable feat went sky-high this time in Hangzhou.
Thailand, fielding a formidable squad of talented new generation which secured a maiden spot among the Elite 8 teams in the 2022 VNL Final Round and stunned world No.7 Poland and their home crowd in Lodz at the last month’s Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament in Pool C, were led offensively by Chatchu-On Moksri, Ajcharaporn Kongyot and Pimpichaya Kokrum.
Thailand led 4-1 in the first set before China stormed back to catch them at 4-4 and again at 18-18. Devastating Li Yingying produced spectacular spikes and handed China the set point at 24-20. Opposite Pimpichaya saved one for Thailand before Wang Yuanyuan hammered a fast spike to end the Thai challenge in the first set 25-21.
The rhythm remained with Thailand in the second set as they came up with confidence and consistency to stay in front 7-3 and managed to widen the gap with a five-point clear at 15-10. China roared back mightily, with Li Yingying, Wu Mengjie and Wang Yuanyuan setting up their tall, heavy-hitting teammates to their scoring successes. The host side gradually pulled their game together to catch up with Thailand at 23-23 and went on with that brilliant form for the comeback 25-23 win.
Holding 2-0 advantage, China remained invincible in the third set as, despite Thailand’s gallant fight, the Chinese showcased their prowess with counter-attacks and solid blocks. As China reached the set point at 24-15, opposite Gong Xiangyu hammered an aggressive attack to the opponents’ back court and it went without responding. China captured the comfortable set 25-15, match and a final berth.
Li Yingying, who landed the Best Outside Spiker at this year’s VNL, led the China’s offense with 19 points from 14 kills, 3 blocks and 2 aces, while Yuan Xinyue, who claimed the Best Middle Blocker at the VNL, added another 15 points including 4 blocks. Outside hitter Chatchu-On Moksri scored a match-high 21 points from 19 attacks, one block and one ace in the Thailand’s loss.
China dominated in kills (50 to 42), blocks (10 to 5) and aces (7 to 1), but Thailand benefitted from more opponent errors (11 to 8). China, the only team which have yet dropped a set to their respective opponents, advanced to the final showdown in quest of their Asian Games title defence against Japan.
In the Classification Round for ranking 5th-8th, Korea, world No.40 and bronze medallists at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, managed a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-16) shutout of world No.32 Kazakhstan.
Middle blocker Lee Dahyeon chipped in with 14 points including 7 attacks and team-leading 4 blocks for Korea, while outside hitter Kang Sohwi and middle blocker Park Eunjin kept good company to add another 13 and 11 points respectively.
Korea will next fight it out with Chinese Taipei for the fifth position in the continental multi-sports extravaganza in Hangzhou on Saturday, the final day of the one-week-long topflight competition.
World No.45 Chinese Taipei, which finished a disappointing 9th at the 2018 Asian Games and the same position at the recent 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Championship in Thailand, overcame a daunting challenge from DPR Korea to beat the spirited rivals in fantastic four sets 29-27, 25-23, 21-25, 25-9.
Opposite Chang LI-Wen and outside hitter Wu Fang-Yu scored huge 21 points apiece to steer Chinese Taipei to the dramatic win. Outside hitter Kim Hyonju contributed 20 points including 19 attacks from 70 attempts on the DPR Korea’s losing effort.
Earlier in the Classification Round for ranking 9th-12th places, Hong Kong, China, current world No.69 and winners at the Nakhon Pathom-hosted 2022 Women’s Asian Volleyball Challenge Cup in Thailand, sealed a 3-0 (25-22, 25-16, 25-18) sweep of Nepal at Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium.
Outside hitter Chim Wing Lam chipped in with 14 points, all in attack, for Hong Kong, China, while outside hitter Pratibha Mali delivered 17 points including 13 attacks from 47 attempts in the Nepal’s loss.
Following the convincing win, Hong Kong, China, which finished a disappointing 11th place at the previous 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and the same position at the recent 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Championship in Thailand, are assured of returning home with a better performance this time in Hangzhou. Hong Kong, China will next fight it out with India in the 9th-10th playoff match on Saturday.
World No.65 India, a well-earned 7th place at the 22nd Asian Championship and 10th at the 2018 Asian Games, also completed their Friday’s task in the same fashion after brushing off world No.78 Mongolia in comfortable straight sets 25-16, 25-20, 25-17.
Team captain and outside hitter Nirmal scored a match-high 20 points from 18 attacks and 2 blocks for the India’s crucial win in this match, while opposite Khongorzul Gan-Ochir and fellow opposite Enkhnaran Ganbold handed Mongolia 13 points apiece in the team’s loss.
Mongolia, which ended in 12th place at the 22nd Asian Championship in Thailand, will challenge Nepal in the Saturday’s 11th-12th playoff match. Hong Kong, China will be pitted against India to fight for the 9th place, while Kazakhstan will take on DPR Korea in the 7th-8th playoff clash, with Korea up against Chinese Taipei for the 5th position.
Thailand will renew rivalry with Southeast Asian old foes Vietnam in the third-place playoff to battle it out for the consolation bronze medal, with two unbeaten teams Japan and China setting up highly-anticipated final clash for the Asian Games crown in Hangzhou.
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