Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, April 26, 2023 – Altay Vc stunned Diamond Food Fine Chef-Air Force with epic comeback, as Sport Center 1 survived scare from Paykan and Liaoning Donghua pulled off convincing victory against Khuvsgul Erchim on Day 1 of the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium here on Tuesday.
Fired-up Altay, champions in 2021 and silver medallists in 2022, succumbed to stunning loss in the first two sets 22-25, 19-25 against old foes Diamond Food, the team they had beaten in straight sets at the last year’s edition in Kazakhstan, in Pool B. Steered by terrific Sana Anarkulova, who landed the MVP award in 2021 and the Best Outside Hitter in 2022, the taller Kazakh side, with their height average of 181cm against the Thai counterparts’ 175cm, bounced back in style to win the next three sets 25-22, 25-14, 15-11, much to the team’s delight.
Aside from Sana Anarkulova, who scored a match high 27 points including 24 attacks, those who could prove a great asset to Altay’s dramatic win included opposite Tatyana Nikitina, outside hitter Serbian Sara Sakradzija, middle blocker Kristina Anikonova and Serbian setter Andela Veselinovic.
However, the Thai team also proved to be a tough nut to crack this time, loaded with talented players including highly-experienced Nootsara Tomkom, formerly regarded as one of the best setters in the world, promising young stars Sasipaporn Janthawisut, middle blockers Tichakorn Boonlert and Kaewkalaya Kamulthala and opposite Wipawee Srithong, four of them played in the Thailand national team in the VNL the previous year. Also strengthening the team was the 193cm-tall Serbian Natasa Cikiriz.
In the interview, Altay head coach Russian Yury Pancenko admitted that it was a difficult match for his team, but it was a good start for the Kazakhs to kick off their campaign with win, while Diamond Food head coach Kittikhun Sri-Utthawong said that his players performed well up to their level, but in some crucial moments made too many mistakes, citing that every team in this tournament is strong and cannot be underestimated. However, he’s still upbeat that his girls will come back with improved form in the following matches to ensure that the top-four target remains within their reach.
Meanwhile, hosts Vietnam’s Sport Center 1, fielding all national team players in their final preparation for the next month’s 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia, struggled hard to beat determined Paykan from Iran in another hotly-contested match of the day.
The 193cm-tall Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who currently plays for PFU Blue Cats in the Japanese League Division 1, became the backbone of Sport Center 1, puncturing the Iranian defence with her spectacular attacks to steer the host side to the hard-fought 25-22, 21-25, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10 win in grueling 129-minutes in the Pool A clash.
Thanh Thuy topscored with stunning 39 points including 35 attacks and two aces for Sport Center 1. Keeping good company for this great win for the Vietnamese side were middle blockers Ly Thi Luyen and Tran Thi Bich Thuy and opposite Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh.
Paykan also proved well that their victory at the Iran Women’s Premier League at the 2022/23 season was no fluke. Led by hard-attacking Mahsa Kadkhoda, who contributed 21 points including 16 attacks and three blocks for the team in this match, outside Fatemeh Amini and opposite Mona Ashofteh, Paykan fought it hard and had a chance of winning when they led initially 6-3 in the thrilling tie-breaker. However, things turned sour for the Iranians moments later when Sport Center 1, backed by the home-crowd supports at the packed venue, hit back gallantly to level it at 8-8 and stormed on to win the thrilling decider 15-11.
Paykan head coach Fateme Rashidi admitted that her team played well, but still had to learn more how to compete in a very tight match like this. However, she praised the home crowd supports, citing that it helped make the match even more exciting.
Despite the win, Sport Center 1 head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet was not happy with the result, but admitted that a short warm up due to the opening ceremony and the absence of some key players in the team made much the impact on the team’s performance.
Earlier, the opening ceremony was held ahead of the eagerly-awaited match between Sport Center 1 and Paykan. AVC Secretary General Mr Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai, along with Control Committee President and Technical Delegate Dr Eom Han-Joo, presided over the ceremony.
An AVC plaque was also presented by Mr Kiattipong to Vinh Phuc and Volleyball Federation of Vietnam for their great contributions in hosting the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship. All participating teams lined up to listen to the welcome message from Mr Tran Due Phan, Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Vice President of the Volleyball Federation of Vietnam, and receive the bouquets of flowers.
Meanwhile, China’s Liaoning Donghua VC registered their first win in Pool B after powering past debutantes Mongolia’s Khuvsgul Erchim VC in comfortable straight sets 25-15, 25-13, 25-9.
Sun Xizoxuan tallied 14 points including 11 attacks for Liaoning Donghua, while Shi Bingtong and Lin Xinyu added 13 and 12 points respectively. Khandsuren Gantogtokh led Khuvsgul Erchim with 8 points.
Khuvsgul Erchim head coach Kherlen Baldorj commented after the match that most of her team players are very young and need to learn some more experience, citing that they have to correct mistakes made in the Tuesday’s first match against the Chinese side.
Liaoning Donghua team head coach Japanese Yoshida Toshiaki was delighted for his team’s first win in this championship, saying that bagging the first three points from the very first match in this championship was something he and his team could be proud of. However, he admitted that the daunting task awaits his team on Thursday when they have to take on Altay, but he hoped that his team will be well-prepared and do their best in that seemingly-tough match.
Nine teams are testing their mettle in the continent’s topflight club competition, vying for top honor and the lone berth at stake for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship, due to be held in China later this year.
Sport Center 1 (hosts Vietnam), Paykan (Iran), King Whale Taipei (Chinese Taipei) and Hisamitsu Springs (Japan) are in Pool A, with Altay VC (Kazakhstan), Diamond Food Fine Chef-Air Force (Thailand), Hip Hing VC (Hong Kong, China), Liaoning Donghua VC (China) and Khuvsgul Erchim VC (Mongolia) in Pool B.
Teams playing pool round-robin preliminaries from April 25 to 29, with top two teams from each pool making the cut for the cross semifinals and lower-ranked teams finishing 3rd, 4th and 5th places in each pool fighting it out in classification round for 5th-9th places in this championship.
On Wednesday, the second day of the eight-day championship, Diamond Food will take on Hip Hing VC at 1.30pm local time with high hopes of registering their first win. In the second match at 4.30pm, Khuvsgul Erchim will go up against Altay, with King Whale Taipei challenging Hisamitsu Springs in their first clash in the championship at 7.30pm.
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