Jiangmen, China, July 1, 2024 – Reigning champions Japan, Thailand and Korea powered past unfancied rivals with convincing straight sets, but Kazakhstan struggled hard to beat Australia with comeback 3-2 win on Day 1 of the 22nd Asian Women’s U20 Volleyball Championship at the Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium on Monday.
The topflight championship, which serves as the Asia’s qualification for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship, attracted 12 teams across the continent to vie for top honor. China, current world champions, are likely to automatically qualify for the next year’s World Championship, while the top four teams in Jiangmen will also secure their places in the World Championship, set to be held between August and September in 2025.
Pool A comprises hosts and world champions China, which picked up silver medal at the previous edition in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan two years ago, Kazakhstan and Australia. Title-holders Japan, India and Hong Kong, China are in Pool B, with Thailand, Iran, Vietnam in Pool C and New Zealand, Korea, Chinese Taipei in Pool D.
On Monday, the very first day of the nine-day championship, Thailand, which secured bronze medal at the previous edition, overcame a strong challenge from Vietnam, the team they had beaten 3-1 in the 7th-8th playoff at the recent VTV9 Binh Dien Cup International Women’s Tournament in Vietnam, to pull out hard-fought 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-13) victory in Pool C.
Outside hitter Warisara Seetaloed scored a match-high 17 points from 15 kills, one block and one ace for Thailand, while outside hitter and skipper Nguyen Lan Vy led Vietnam with 12 points from 10 kills, one block and one ace.
In Pool B, formidable Japan kicked off their title defence with comfortable straight-set win 25-14, 25-11, 25-11 against India.
Outside hitter Anna Uemura, who stands 168cm tall, was the most productive player of Japan after scoring 12 points from 11 kills and one ace, while Riri Kasai and Miku Akimoto kept good company to add 10 and 9 points respectively. The Japanese girls limited the rivals’ offense to the point that no Indian player got to reach double digits in scoring against them. Outside hitter Kavita scored 7 points, all in attack, on the India’s loss.
Korea, which finished a well-earned fourth place at the previous edition two years ago, came back much stronger this time. They had a comfortable encounter in Pool D following their 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-17) demolition of Chinese Taipei on Monday.
No player in this match reached double digits in scoring, with middle blockers Kim Sebeen and Lee Jiyun chipping in 9 points apiece for Korea and opposite Hsu Fang-Min leading Chinese Taipei with 8 points, all in attack.
In Pool A earlier, Kazakhstan and Australia fought hard in a closely-contested match which saw the former bounce back to beat the latter for the hard-fought five-set win 18-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 16-14.
Outside hitter Amina Kyrykbayeva delivered 20 points from 17 kills and 3 aces for Kazakhstan, while Ella Schabort scored a match-high 22 points from 14 kills, 3 blocks and 5 aces on the Australia’s loss.
With only top two teams through to the Round of 8, Australia, which had already suffered their first loss to Kazakhstan, will next play a must-win match against world champions China. A possible loss to the host side will result in their relegation to the Classification Round for 9th-12th places.
On Tuesday, Japan will take on Hong Kong, China, while Vietnam will go up against Iran, New Zealand play Korea and China meet Kazakhstan.
The pool round-robin preliminaries are being held from July 1 to 3 and after the conclusion of the pool play on Wednesday, only top two teams from each pool will advance to Round of 8, while teams finishing third places in each pool will be relegated to Classification Round for 9th-12th places.
POOL RANKING AND RESULTS
POOL A
POOL B
POOL C
POOL D
MATCH SCHEDULE
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