Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 21, 2024 – China and Japan respectively demolished Thailand and Chinese Taipei in straight sets on Friday to become the only two unbeaten teams in the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium, but four of them secured their places in the much-anticipated semifinals.
Contesting their last matches on the last day of the Classification Round 1-8, Kazakhstan downed Uzbekistan 3-1 (27-25, 18-25, 25-12, 25-17) and China overpowered Thailand 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 25-9) in Pool E, while Korea demolished Iran 3-0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-11) and Japan outclassed Chinese Taipei 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-16) in Pool F.
At the end of the Round 1-8 playoffs on Friday, formidable China topped Pool E with 9 points from three straight wins without dropping a single set to their respective rivals, while Thailand finished second with 6 points form two wins against one loss. Kazakhstan came in third place with 3 points from one win against two losses, with winless Uzbekistan on the bottom fourth of Pool E with no point earned.
Japan captured the top spot in Pool F with 8 points from three wins in a row, while Chinese Taipei finished second place with 6 points from two wins against one loss. Korea came in third position with 4 points from one win against two losses, with Iran in fourth place with no point claimed from three straight losses.
With only top two teams from each pool advancing, China and Thailand from Pool E and Japan and Chinese Taipei from Pool F not only secured their places in the semifinals, but are guaranteed their places at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship.
On Friday at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium, hosts Thailand, which captured the last week’s 22nd “Princess Cup” Women’s U18 Southeast Asian Championship to their name and fresh from beating Kazakhstan 3-1 in the previous match on Thursday, faced a difficult situation in their clash against the mighty China, former four-time champions, in Pool E.
However, despite putting up a brave fight against the much stronger Chinese, whose height average is 185cm against the hosts’ 177cm, Thailand found the visitors too strong offensively to go down in straight sets 21-25, 22-25, 9-25, their first loss in this championship.
China fielded a formidable lineup led by powerful hitters Zhai Yurui and opposite Yang Shuming, while Thailand relied mostly on the key players who played vital parts in the team’s victories in previous matches comprising the 185cm-tall Supawadee Panwilai, Sasikan Kanoiu and Atitaya Kaewnok.
China used their better offensive system orchestrated by Zhai Yurui and Yang Shuming to score back-to-back points in the opening set. Thailand tried hard to penetrate the Chinese defence with their attacks, but the rivals heightened their defence, allowing the Thais tough times to score. China took the first set 25-21.
Conceding one set, Thailand regrouped and bounced back to make amends for the first-set loss. Supawadee and Wisaruta Sengna proved serious thorns in the rivals’ offense with their attacks, but the excellent Chinese teamwork made the difference after that. They played cool under pressure and hit back splendidly to turn the tables on the Thai girls. After a pulsating contest, China took the second set 25-22 to hold 2-0 advantage.
The third set turned out to be a totally lopsided battle when China showcased their exceptional skills and form to dominate the whole match, allowing Thailand only 9 points to wrap up the one-sided set 25-9 and match.
Zhai Yurui was the China’s most productive player with 18 points from 11 kills, one block and team-leading 6 aces, while Yang Shuming and Huang Yuexin contributed 15 and 9 points respectively. Supawadee Panwilai led Thailand with 13 points from 10 kills and 3 aces.
The other encounter in Pool E saw Uzbekistan fight well in a tough match against Kazakhstan before going down in four sets 25-27, 25-18, 12-25, 17-25.
Uzbekistan put Kazakhstan in trouble in the first set, coming up with good combination attacks from Dilshoda Odiljonova and Maftuna Rokhimova. Still, Kazakhstan regained their momentum, with Violetta Volga uncorking a barrage of spikes. Kazakhstan took the closely-contested first set 27-25.
Uzbekistan put on impressive form with good reception and combinations to steal the show with the stunning 25-18 win in the second set.
However, they dropped from the best form they had shown so far, allowing the Kazakhs scoring opportunities in the next two sets. Kazakhstan comfortably claimed both sets 25-12, 25-17 and match.
Opposite Aidana Zhetessova and Nargiz Abdygani scored 16 points apiece for the Kazakhstan’s victory, while Dishoda Odiljonova led Uzbekistan with 13 points.
In Pool F, defending and nine-time champions Japan continued their unbeaten record by pounding on Chinese Taipei in thrilling three-setter 25-18, 25-22, 25-16.
Everything seemed to be working for Japan in the first set as they kept widening that gap, thanks to exceptional attacks from Yuzuki Baba and Minori Izutani. After winning the set without much effort 25-18, Japan stormed on in the second set, but Chinese Taipei recovered fast to dominate with more aggressive spiking from Chen Pin-Yu. Still, the Japanese had enough in their tank to hold them off. Back-to-back attacks from Baba and Rion Chuganji helped Japan win crucial points at home stretch for the hard-fought 25-22 win in the set.
Chinese Taipei tried to come back in the third set, but the Japanese performed well offensively to deny the rivals’ challenge, launching waves of attacks with good blocks to seal the easy set 25-16 and match.
Yuzuki Baba delivered 17 points from 15 kills and 2 aces for Japan, while Rion Chuganji and Minori Izutani added 12 and 8 points. Chen Pin-Yu scored 12 points on the Chinese Taipei’s loss.
The other Pool F match saw Korea play more comfortably in whipping Iran in straight sets 25-10, 25-20, 25-11. Korea used Park Yeoreum, Jung A Rim and Park Yunseo to work on scoring efforts in the first set, but Iran counter-attacked well, with opposite Mobina Karimi Bistgani and outside hitter Masoumeh Ghadamitabaghdehi overcoming the Korean blockers with their aggressive spikes.
The Koreans clawed their way back to win the tough set 25-20 and went on their fine attacks with good combinations and consistency to capture the easy third set 25-11.
Park Yeoreum scored a match-high 18 points including 15 attacks from 27 attempts for Korea, while Mobina Karimi Bistgani led Iran with 7 points including 5 attacks from 16 attempts.
Meanwhile, in the Classification Round for 9th-13th places at Ratchaburi Gymnasium in Ratchaburi Province, Macao, China went down to India in straight sets 21-25, 10-25, 17-25 in their last match of the tournament on Friday.
Outside hitter Mrunal Amit Agarkar scored 11 crucial points from 8 kills and 3 aces for India, while Zang Yun Fei chipped in 13 points from 11 kills and 2 aces on the Macao, China’s loss.
Macao, China completely ended their campaign in the championship to finish on the bottom 13th place.
In the other matches, Australia produced comeback 3-1 (26-28, 26-24, 25-17, 25-20) win against Hong Kong, China.
Australia dominated in kills (51 to 44) and blocks (14 to 5), but Hong Kong, China fared better in aces (6 to 5) aside from benefitting from more opponent errors (34 to 32).
Outside hitter Rosie Alchin delivered 16 points from 13 kills, 3 aces for Australia, while Chelsea Cocks and Matisse Conlon kept good company to add 15 and 14 points respectively. Outside hitter Lin Kai Yu scored a match-high 20 points including 17 kills from 58 attempts on the Hong Kong, China’s loss.
On Saturday, India and Hong Kong, China will fight for 11th place, with Australia and Philippines battling it out in the 9th-10th playoff clash.
MATCH RESULTS
POOL E 1-4
POOL F 1-4
POOL 9-13
MATCH SCHEDULE
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