AMMAN, Jordan — China and Korea completed the Final Four in the 2nd AVC Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship on Thursday at the Prince Hamzah Arena.
China and Korea joined defending champion Japan and Chinese Taipei in the Final Four and the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship in Chile.
China remained unstoppable as it eliminated Hong Kong, China from title contention with a 25-15, 25-18, 25-10 rout.
Xu Rui Lin led another balanced attack for the 2023 U16 runner-up with 13 points. Yang Miaomiao and Chen Ruin Han supported Xu with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
China eyes a second straight finals appearance against Chinese Taipei in a knockout semifinal on Friday at 4 p.m.
Hong Kong, China is relegated to the classification for 5th to 8th places, taking on the Philippines at 11 a.m.
Korea finished the Final 8 round with two consecutive wins after sweeping Uzbekistan, 25-13, 25-7, 25-18.
Jang Suin and Park Ye Young led the Korean’s lopsided win with 14 points each, as Lee De Yeon, Eo Minseo, and Son Seoyeon chipped in seven points each.
Korea takes on unbeaten defending champion Japan on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Uzbekistan, which finished with a 0-3 card in the Final 8, takes on Thailand for the right to advance to the battle for fifth at 1:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan and Iran took down separate foes to inch closer to a battle for ninth place at the Princess Sumaya Hall.
Margarita Vagner led Kazakhstan with 13 points to sweep host Jordan, 25-12, 25-15, 25-12.
Vagner had nine kills, two blocks, and two aces. Aisha Mukhamadiyeva and Assiya Askarova had nine and seven
Iran, on the other hand, survived Australia in five sets, 25-23, 16-25, 25-17, 22-25, 17-15.
Setayesh Nasr Esfahani came to the rescue for Iran, putting on the finishing touches to prevent Australia from pulling off a comeback.
She scored 17 points for the Iranians. Zahra Jafari Khoulenjaniv and Taraneh Jamchi chimed in with 11 points each, while Melina Ghofrani added nine, including the game-winning ace.
Kazakhstan battles Australia also on Friday at 4 p.m., followed by the Iran-Jordan match at 6:30 p.m.
Jorja Grocott led Australia with 20 points in a losing effort.