Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 23, 2024 – China ended a 19-year title drought in the Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship after convincing straight-set win against reigning champions Japan in the Sunday’s showdown to capture their title with remarkable unbeaten record.
Since the championship inception in 1997 in Yala, Thailand, China had won this flagship biennial tournament for four times. They captured their maiden title in 1999 and continued their back-to-back wins in 2001, 2003 and 2005. The 15th edition in 2024 was the China’s fifth title to their name.
After that, Japan, which claimed their first title in 1997, took an absolute control of the championship, winning it in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2022. The championship was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The straight-set sweeps highlighted Sunday, the last day of the eight-day competition, which served as the Asian qualification for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship.
The highly-anticipated showdown between China and Japan saw the former cruise to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 26-24) win against the latter, while Chinese Taipei stunned Thailand and their home fans 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-23) to return with a well-earned bronze medal.
As top four teams in the top-tier championship qualified for the next year’s U19 World Championship, China, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Thailand have been guaranteed of securing their berths for the world meet.
In the playoff matches, Korea took the fifth place after 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17) blitz over Iran, while Kazakhstan trounced Uzbekistan 3-0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-21) to return with the seventh position.
En route to their ninth final showdown against the same rivals on Sunday, China have yet lost a single set to their respective rivals. In the semifinals earlier, the Chinese girls powered past Chinese Taipei in straight sets , while Japan also did likewise, brushing off hosts Thailand in three-setter.
Against title-holders Japan, China fielded a strong lineup led by opposite and skipper Yang Shuming and middle blockers Wang Aoqian and Shen Jiayi, while Japan, going unbeaten until the showdown, were strong offensively with the likes of outside hitters Minami Kessoku and Rion Chuganji.
As Japan defended spectacularly in some crucial moments, China managed to step in front early in the first set and never looked back to reach set point 25-22. Japan sent in Niji Sato to improve on their defence, but their attempts were in vain as Wang Aoqian hammered an off-the-block kill to hand China the first set win 25-22.
China still gained an upper hand to take an initial 7-3 lead before extending it to 21-17. Wang Aoqian showcased her talent to score two points in a row to bring China to the set point 24-17. Minori Izutani saved the day for Japan with her sharp cross-court spike but her effort only gave the team a brief breath for air since shortly after that, Zhai Yurui attacked Japan with her fine attack to end the rivals in this match 25-18.
The third set saw Japan lead from the beginning 13-11 and showed resilience with consistency to widen it to 22-20 and 24-23, needing only one more point to win the set. However, China pulled their game together and managed to catch them at 24-24, thanks to Zhai Yurui’s off-speed attack. China stormed on to win the remaining two points to capture the set 26-24 and championship.
Yang Shuming and Wang Aoqian chipped in 15 points apiece for China, while Yuzuki Baba scored a match-high 18 points on the Japan’s loss.
It was the third final showdown at the same venue here between the same opponents, but this time, China avenged the loss to Japan in the previous two editions with a fantastic straight-set win for a perfect sweep by not dropping a set in this championship.
In the third-place playoff match earlier, Chinese Taipei, which finished fifth in the previous edition, returned with their heads high in confidence and pride following their straight-set 25-17, 25-21, 25-23 win against hosts Thailand for bronze medal.
Chinese Taipei were incredible dominant in defensive system orchestrated by Chen Pin-Yu, Chen Yi and Tseng Yu-Rou to win the comfortable first set 25-17. However, the host side battled back, but the visitors held their nerves and counter-attacked to win the second set 25-21.
Thailand had a chance to come back in the third set, but Chinese Taipei were just too good and never gave up easily to take the hard-fought set 25-23, match and bronze medal.
Chen Pin-Yu delivered 20 points from 16 kills, one block and three aces for Chinese Taipei. The strong visitors also performed well to limit the Thai aggression in scoring against them which saw no Thai player reach double digits. Wisaruta Sengna scored 9 points on the team’s loss.
As Chinese Taipei picked up bronze medal, Thailand finished a well-earned fourth place, the similar position they had achieved two years ago at the same venue here.
Korea, which claimed bronze at the previous edition, had to be content with fifth place this time as they managed a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17) shutout of Iran in the 5th-6th playoff clash.
Park Yeoreum was the Korea’s most productive player with 15 points from 13 kills and 2 blocks, while Kim Jiyoon and Ha Yeji added 10 points apiece. Ayda Valinezhad led Iran with 13 points including 12 attacks from 29 attempts.
The 7th-8th place playoff match between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan saw the former outplay the latter in a one-sided battle 25-8, 25-14, 25-21. Kazakhstan returned with an improved performance. After an 8th-placed finish in the previous edition, Kazakhstan came in 7th position this time, while Uzbekistan finished the similar 8th they had achieved two years ago here.
Middle blocker Saltanat Aidarbekova chipped in 17 points from 12 attacks, 2 blocks and 3 aces for Kazakhstan, while Zebokhon Absamatova led Uzbekistan with 10 points including 8 attacks from 11 attempts.
RESULTS AND POOL RANKINGS
POOL 1-4
POOL 5-8
FINAL RANKING
CHAMPIONS: CHINA
SILVER: JAPAN
BRONZE: CHINESE TAIPEI
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
BEST OUTSIDE HITTERS
BEST MIDDLE BLOCKERS
BEST OPPOSITE
BEST SETTER
BEST LIBERO
MVP
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