DAY 3 WRAP UP
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 8, 2022 – Title-hotshots Japan, hosts Thailand and gritty Korea saw off lower-ranked sides on Day 3 of the pool round-robin preliminaries to keep their unbeaten streaks intact at the 14th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship at Nakhon Pathom Sports Center Gymnasium on Wednesday.
Japan, reigning and eight-time champions, spearheaded by Sae Omori, grabbed three successive victories on Wednesday after demolishing Chinese Taipei in thrilling three-setter 25-22, 25-12, 25-16.
Thailand, bronze medalists at the previous 2018 edition in Nakhon Pathom, also made their mark, as the home outfit extended their invincible run after cruising past the spirited Iran in thrilling four sets 25-17, 18-25, 25-20, 25-17.
Iran will next compete against Korea in a must-win clash on Thursday. Thailand led the Pool A pack with 9 points from three consecutive wins to stay in safe zone, while Korea had 6 points from two wins in a row.
Pool A features only five teams, resulting in only four matches to be contested in the preliminaries. With only top two teams from each pool securing their berths for semifinals, Iran, with only 3 points from one win against one loss, badly need a crucial win in the Thursday’s match against Korea to keep their high hopes of advancing alive. More importantly, a possible loss to Korea will knock the Iranians out of contention.
Thailand will take on Korea in their last match of the pool plays on Saturday.
China, silver medallists at the previous two editions in 2017 and 2018, notched their second victory after 3-0 (25-7, 25-7, 25-13) demolition of Philippines in completely one-sided affair.
Talented Chen Xiyue weighed in with huge 21 points for China, while Fan Poning kept good company to add 10 points. Mae De Leon Dona led the Filipinas with 5 points.
“I used my main players in this match against the Philippines even if I knew their match would be easy because I wanted my players to stay in shape and get ready for their next matches. A tough task awaits us out there,” said China’s head coach Wen Ye.
Australia will be pitted against Uzbekistan on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Australia’s high hopes of winning their very first match in this topnotch championship evaporated when the fired-up Koreans brushed off the unfancied rivals in a lop-sided battle 25-11, 25-15, 25-11. Shin Eunji chipped in with 13 points for Korea including 7 attacks and 6 aces, while Lee Jiyun added 9 points from attack hits. Caitlin Whincup led Australia with 9 points.
In Pool B, Kazakhstan produced a magnificent come-from-behind 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-11 25-14) victory against India in their third match to next go up against title-holders Japan on Thursday, while India will next challenge former four-time winners China.
Aruzhan Berkimbay topscored with 20 points for Kazakhstan including 18 attacks, while Kavita also reached double digits with 16 points for India.
“I am so happy to win today. I hope we can go at the same pace. Teams here are very strong and this experience is totally new for me,” Kazakhstan’s Anastassiya Kartashova, who plays for Altay Club, said after the match.
The pool plays continue through Saturday, with Friday a day set aside for rest. At completion of the preliminaries, top two teams from each pool will set up cross semifinals, while the next two teams from each pool will contest classification round for 5th-8th places. The remaining three teams will battle it out for 9th, 10th and 11th places respectively.
MATCH RESULTS, STANDINGS AND MATCH SCHEDULE
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