Hangzhou, China, July 2, 2023 – Asian powerhouses Japan, Thailand and hosts China captured top spots in their pools following their back-to-back wins in pool round-robin preliminaries of the 1st Asian Women’s U16 Volleyball Championship in Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang Province, on Sunday.
Thailand and Kazakhstan set up the championship’s first five-set thriller, seeing the former edge out the latter with comeback 3-2 (23-25, 25-11, 25-14, 23-25, 15-8) win after a grueling 140-minute seesaw battle at China Textile City Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Both sides came into the match to trade points until 6-6 tie before Kazakhstan strengthened their service aggressiveness featuring some aces to gradually establish a 16-9 lead. Thailand requested for a timeout and made some substitutions thereafter. It worked out well as the Thais stabilized their reception for attacks and chased up to 21-23. Kazakhstan asked for timeouts twice at the very end of the set and their middle blocker Balaiym Koilybayeva stood out to finish the close set 25-23 after a long rally.
Conceding one set, Thailand played a strong start in the second set to lead with a four-point clear at 5-1. Though Kazakhstan made some adjustment through timeouts and substitutions, they committed more mistakes while the Thais firmly controlled the situation with their diversified attacks and consolidated defence. Thailand took the lopsided second set 25-11 to level it at 1-1.
Kazakhstan could not reduce their unforced mistakes in the beginning of the third set to trail 4 points behind 1-5. A timely timeout requested by Kazakhstan relieved themselves from the predicament as they gradually chased up to even the score at 7-7. However, the Thais performed better in attacking especially from both wings and they again widened the gap before wrapping up the comfortable set 25-14.
As Thailand came up with some ups and downs in the fourth set, the Kazakhs took a good chance to keep themselves in the tussle all the way. Thailand challenged seriously for points and then scored 3 points in a row for a slim 23-22 lead at the home stretch. However, the Thais just let the victory in possible four sets slip through their fingers as Kazakhstan bounced back heavily after the timeout to score back-to-back points, leveling it at 23-23 and stormed on to win the hard-fought set 25-23.
Both sides gave it all what they had in the decider, but Kazakhstan remained in aggressive form to lead initially 8-6. The stubborn Thais answered with their reinforced defence and attacks, reversing the situation for a commanding 13-8 lead. After a sharp shot by Aiamla-oo Thanita, and a combination error from the opponents, Thailand captured the set 15-8 for an eventual 3-2 victory.
Thanita Aiamla-oo registered a match-high 29 points for Thailand, followed by her teammates Natchaya Tahae and Thatsanawan Phaibun with 27 and 15 points respectively. Kazakhstan’s middle blockers Karina Balmukhambetova and Balaiym Koilybayeva scored 14 points apiece on the team’s losing effort.
Meanwhile, Japan claimed another straight-set victory as they cruised to a 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-20) win against Iran at Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium on Sunday morning.
Captains Yuzuki Baba and Ghadamitabaghdehi Masi both contributed 11 points apiece for Japan and Iran.
In combination with double blocks and edges in service, Japan quickly gained the initiative and dominated the first set 25-16.
Both sides took turns to gain points till 6-6 tie before Japan changed the situation in the second set with more comprehensive tactics offensively and defensively. Iran handed out the second set 19-25 in spite of their improvement in attack at the late stage.
Iran continued to adjust their offensive pace at the beginning of the third set, scoring 4 points in a row. Japan replied with effective counterattacks to even the score at 6-6 and then turned the table to lead with a five-point clear at 22-17. Both sides committed several errors at the final phase and following a thundering attack delivered by Yuzuki Baba, Japan clinched the set 25-20.
“We started from consolidating defense. Combined with good cooperation, we also improved the attack to complete a satisfying performance,” said Yuzuki Baba, captain of Japan, at the Mixed Zone.
“Our players were pretty good but I think team Japan played better than us. Anyway, we are ready for the next game,” said Iranian head coach Fatemeh Shabankhamseh.
The match between China and Uzbekistan proved one-way traffic as the host team came out in full force to power past unfancied Uzbekistan in comfortable straight sets 25-7, 25-10, 25-8 in 57 minutes at Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
Yang Shuming topscored with 18 points from 15 attacks and 3 aces for China, while Huang Yuexin delivered 8 attacks, 1 block and 2 aces.
China came up with oppressive attacks in the first set, leaving the smaller-built Uzbeks far behind. Middle blocker Ren Weiyu emerged as a major force for China to be reckoned with as she powered the host side to a sensational 25-7 win.
Facing the mighty Chinese, Uzbekistan showed no fear as they came back from a five-point lag (1-6) to narrow the gap to 6-7 in the beginning of the second set. However, their Chinese counterparts showed no mercy but reinforced their offense. Following consecutive aces, outside hitter Huang Yuexin led the team to 25-10 win in another lopsided battle.
Uzbekistan still failed to make their mark in the third set as they could not carry out an effective strategy. Still, the visitors earned several points from the opponent errors. China took the set 25-8 and the match.
“It’s such a pity that we lost the game. As you can see, my team members had no advantage over height, but they still fought hard to save every opportunity. Anyway, we’ve learned a lot from team China,” said Rakhimov Shukhrat, head coach of Uzbekistan, at the post-match press conference.
“Team China’s powerful attacks inspired us to try harder. I hope we would be stronger in the future and have another chance to play them,” said Uzbekistan’s captain Absamatova Zebokhon.
“Team Uzbekistan showed great perseverance during the match. That’s also what we should have,” said Kuang Qi, head coach of China.
“We’ve made good preparation for this match and played better than yesterday. Hopefully, we can keep the momentum,” Yang Shuming, captain of China, said.
On Monday, the last day of the preliminary round, Mongolia will take on Uzbekistan, Australia play Iran and Hong Kong, China challenge Kazakhstan in Pool A, B and C respectively to fight for remaining tickets in their pools.
In Pool D, due to the withdrawal of India, Chinese Taipei and Macao, China, have automatically booked their berths in Top 8. Both sides will contest a match to determine the Pool winners.
MATCH RESULTS
Saturday, July 1
10:30 Japan v Australia 3-0 (25-6, 25-12, 25-18)
10:30 Thailand v Hong Kong, China 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-16)
19:30 China v Mongolia 3-0 (25-11, 25-9, 25-16)
Sunday, July 2
10:30 Kazakhstan v Thailand 2-3 (25-23, 11-25, 14-25, 25-23, 8-15)
10:30 Iran v Japan 0-3 (16-25, 19-25, 20-25)
15:00 Uzbekistan v China 0-3 (7-25, 10-25, 8-25)
POOL RANKING
MATCH SCHEDULES
(All local times)
Monday, July 3, 2023
10:30 Mongolia v Uzbekistan
10:30 Hong Kong, China v Kazakhstan
15:00 Australia v Iran
15:00 Chinese Taipei v Macao, China
QUICK LINKS
AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net
AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation
AVC Twitter: click: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball
AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en
AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation
AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation