Mr Somporn Chaibangyang, President of Thailand Volleyball Association, congratulates Hong Kong, China on their victory and joins them in a group photo for victory celebration after the match against Uzbekistan on Wednesday
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 29, 2022 – Unbeaten Hong Kong, China brushed off Uzbekistan in comfortable straight sets 25-19, 25-10, 25-19 in their last encounter for a clean sweep in the 3rd AVC Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup to eventually reign supreme in the single round-robin tournament at Nakhon Pathom Sports Centre Gymnasium here on Wednesday.
Hong Kong, China, fresh from winning three matches in succession, took on Uzbekistan, which finished 8th at the recent 14th Asian Women’s U18 Championship at the same competition site here, in this crucial match with their sights firmly set on beating the rivals and collecting more points which would be enough to carry them to the top level of the victory podium.
En route to winning their unprecedented title, Hong Kong, China went down in straight sets to hosts Thailand but regained their form to beat the other three teams (Malaysia, Singapore and India) contesting the 3rd AVC Women’s Challenge Cup for a well-earned 8 points. The Hong Kong girls badly needed another win against Uzbekistan on Wednesday to make a clean sweep and capture the AVC Challenge Cup. They finally accomplished the target.
Against Uzbekistan, which outclassed Singapore in comfortable straight sets the previous day, the Hong Kong girls started nervously, allowing the fast-improving Uzbekistan to attack effectively for an initial 16-13 lead. However, Hong Kong, China clawed their way back, with captain Chim Wing Lam, Pang Wing Lam and the 185cm-tall Yeung Sau Mei tearing the rivals’ defence apart with their sharp blows to catch up with Uzbekistan at 18-18 and never looked back after that. They allowed the opponents only one more point to wrap up the comeback set 25-19, with Yeung Sau Mei using her height advantage to attack devastatingly at the net to hand the team the last three points of the set.
Winning the opening set boosted Hong Kong, China’s confidence and they made a strong start in the second set to lead with a 5-point clear at 13-8, courtesy of their improved tactics and better teamwork. As Uzbekistan dropped from their best, the Hong Kong girls found their touch and they blunted the rivals’ blocking efforts with their attacking spree to move ahead 18-10. From then, they cruised comfortably to win the lopsided set 25-10.
Conceding two sets in a row, Uzbekistan came to life in the third set as Khodisakhon Toshkenboeva and Ezozakhon Sativoldieva joined forces in letting loose attack points to surge ahead Hong Kong, China with a 7-point advantage at 12-5. However, Yeung Sau Mei and Chim Wing Lam put the Hong Kong girls back on track as they started to produce the goods after that to narrow the margin 15-17 and catch them at 18-18. The Hong Kong girls went on their dazzling form to capture the set 25-19 and match.
Chim Wing Lam scored a match-high 20 points from 14 attacks, one block and 5 aces, while Yeung Sau Mei and Pang Wing Lam added 18 and 11 points respectively. No Uzbekistan player reaches double digits, with Khodisakhon Toshkenboeva and Ezozakhon Sativoldieva scoring 9 points apiece for the losing team.
Hong Kong, China completed their campaign in the 3rd AVC Women’s Challenge Cup with 11 points from four consecutive wins, followed by India, which ended their Challenge Cup matches on Tuesday to finish second place overall with 10 points from 3 wins against one loss.
After the match, Hong Kong, China’s Yeung Sau Mei, who used to play professionally in the Thailand League, expressed her delight with the team’s win and thanked those who supported her team including Thai fans.
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