Jiangmen, China, June 29, 2024 – The Organizing Committee of the 22nd Asian Women’s U20 Volleyball Championship conducted the Preliminary Inquiry, a final check of all teams’ documents, uniforms and equipments, at Meeting Room 1 at Huabao Sports Exhibition Hotel on Saturday evening, with team managers, head coaches and doctors invited for this mandatory attendance.
China
Control Committee Chairman Mr Cai Yi from China, Technical Delegate Dr Eom Han-Joo from Korea and AVC Coordinator Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, himself AVC Executive Director, jointly conducted the inquiry and all team officials from Hong Kong China, Australia, China, Korea, Kazakhstan, India, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Iran, New Zealand, Vietnam and Thailand attended as scheduled.
Vietnam
After a short meeting in the Preliminary Inquiry, some coaches stopped by to give their perspectives on how their teams’ preparations and expectations for this topflight competition, which serves as the Asian qualification for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship.
Hong Kong, China
“We formed our team early this year in April. Many players have been in the junior team and we competed in two tournaments last year. We changed some players and included three U18 players to our U20 squad. As only top two teams from each pool will advance to the next round, it’s not easy to reach that goal, but we will try our best to finish among top two teams,” Hong Kong, China’s head coach Cheung King Fai.
Korea
“This is our team’s first time here and we trained very hard in our preparation for this championship. We are a bit nervous, but we will do our best,” Korea’s head coach Chang Yoon Hee.
Australia
“Our preparation has been good in lead up to this tournament and we had great opportunity to practice in Japan against some teams from Japan which should be wonderful. We got some season campaigns as we have been to U18 and been part of the women’s team and so, we have great anticipation that we will do well,” Australia’s head coach Cameron Bettenay.
Kazakhstan
“We trained one month in preparation for this championship. At the recent Asian Women’s U18 Championship in Thailand, I was assistant coach. In Jiangmen, there are many strong teams and our expectation cannot be that high. However, despite a dim chance, I hope my girls will do their best to reach the final,” Kazakhstan’s head coach Azamat Yessimov.
Japan
“Our goal is to win gold medal. We have good preparation for this championship and have no injury. Our expectation is to develop and grow our team. We have included six U18 players to our U20 team and hope they will perform well here,” Japan’s head coach Hiroyuki Yamaguchi.
Thailand
“We are 100% ready to compete in the championship here. Actually, we have set our initial target on our girls to make it to the semifinals as we don’t want to put too much pressure on the team. In each round, we have to see how my players can develop compared with what they had done at the last year’s U19 World Championship against China, Japan and Korea and in one year time, how far they have progressed. We will assess their performances here. However, we will give it all out in every match we will compete,” Thailand’s head coach Krittidech Artwichai.
India
“Due to several problems including the student exams, we set up a one-month camp for my players, only 24 days. However, we try to make it to the quarterfinals, that’s our initial target,” India’s head coach.
Chinese Taipei
Twelve teams will strut their stuff in the 22nd Asian Women’s U20 Volleyball Championship, set to take place at the 8,500-seater Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium from July 1 to 9, vying for top honour and four berths up for grabs in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship. Current world champions China are likely to automatically qualify for the next year’s championship.
Iran
Pool A comprises China, Kazakhstan and Australia, with Japan, India and Hong Kong, China in Pool B. Thailand, Vietnam and Iran are in Pool C, while Pool D features Korea, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.
New Zealand
Since the championship inception in 1980, China captured 12 titles, while Japan took 7 including the previous two editions in 2018 and 2022. Korea claimed one in 1980. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the previous edition in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan, two years ago, Japan stunned China in straight sets in the final showdown to successfully defend their title, while Thailand edged past Korea 3-2 to secure bronze medal.
Japan, China and Thailand qualified for the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship in Mexico, where China emerged triumphant as world champions. Japan finished fourth and Thailand ended a distant 15th.
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