DAY 1 WRAP UP
Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 6, 2022 – Defending and eight-time champions Japan rallied past archrivals China in hard-fought straight sets in the 2018 final rematch to join hosts Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Iran and India in notching first wins on Day 1 of the 14th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship at the Nakhon Pathom Sports Center Gymnasium on Monday.
The top-tier championship attracted a total of 11 teams across the continent to vie for top honour and four berths up for grabs for the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship.
The participating teams comprised Thailand, Korea, Iran, Australia and Uzbekistan in Pool A and Japan, China, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, India and Philippines in Pool B.
The curtain-raising clash between Iran and Australia saw the former leave the court with convincing straight-set 25-19, 25-18, 25-16 victory against the latter in Pool A. On Tuesday, Iran will have a rest day, while Australia will go up against the host outfit.
Chinese Taipei, fifth place in the previous edition in Nakhon Pathom in 2018, recovered from the first-set down 21-25 to Kazakhstan and bounced back mightily to win the remaining three sets 25-21, 25-19, 25-18 for their first win in Pool B. The Taiwanese girls are due to next take on former four-time winners China on Tuesday.
Player-cum-coach Chen Mei-Ching said, “My players are young and were nervous at some moments, so they lost the second set. Overall, they played very well. We will analyze today’s match of Japan and China in an effort of beating the Chinese tomorrow.”
In the second match of Pool B, gallant India produced a magnificent come-from-behind 3-1 (14-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19) victory against the Philippines to claim their first win. The Indians will next take on the mighty Japan, while the Philippines go up against Kazakhstan.
In another Pool A match, hosts Thailand, bronze medalists at the previous edition in 2018 and the only Asian team to compete in the COVID-hit 2021 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship in Durango City, Mexico, proved their cut above Uzbekistan to brush off the visitors in convincing straight sets 25-15, 25-15, 25-17 win. The Uzbeks are in their second effort in this crucial age-group championship,
Mr Somporn Chaibangyang, President of Thailand Volleyball Association, arrived in the competition venue to watch the thrilling match between Thailand and Uzbekistan on Monday.
Kanchana Sisaikaeo chipped in with a team-high 14 points for Thailand, while Komila Gusamova led Uzbekistan with 7 points including 6 kills.
Thailand will play Australia in their second Pool A clash on Tuesday, while Uzbekistan will challenge Korea, the only team to start their campaign on Tuesday.
The thrilling match between China and Japan was the day’s highlight. Title-holders Japan and strong contenders China have met in seven showdowns of the biennial championship, which saw the former fare much better to beat the latter in five finals.
With the similar feat repeated on Monday, Japan were on cloud nine to taste their first win on the very first day of the championship and more importantly, they beat the closest rivals China on this crucial day.
As Japan left the competition site with heads high in great pride of winning on the first day, China returned with heads bowed in disappointment caused by the bitter 0-3 loss on the very first day. Japan on Monday demolished China in hotly-contested battle 25-20, 27-25, 25-22 in a highly-anticipated Pool B encounter.
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