Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 18, 2024 – Hosts Thailand, Japan, China and Chinese Taipei made clean sweeps in respective Pools A, B, C and D with perfect runs of not dropping a set to their rivals in the pool round-robin preliminaries of the 15th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship at Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium and Ratchaburi Gymnasium, located apart with a distance of 42km.
Straight-set sweeps highlighted on Tuesday, the last day of the pool play. Thailand sent Uzbekistan packing 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-10) in Pool A, while Japan overwhelmed Philippines 3-0 (25-5, 25-16, 25-14) in Pool B and China whipped Hong Kong, China 3-0 (25-21, 25-8, 25-10). The Pool D encounters saw Chinese Taipei demolish Australia 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-20) and Korea brush off India 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-16).
At the end of the preliminaries on Tuesday, Thailand topped Pool A with 6 points from two straight wins, followed by Uzbekistan with 3 points from one win against one loss. Winless Macao, China finished third with no point earned.
Defending and nine-time champions Japan finished atop Pool B with 6 points from two wins in succession, while Iran came in second place with 3 points from one win against one loss and Philippines did not win a set for two losses in a row to end in third place.
Pool C was dominated by former four-time winners China with 6 points from two consecutive wins. Kazakhstan finished second with 2 points from one win against one loss, with Hong Kong, China in third position with one point from two successive losses.
Chinese Taipei captured the top spot in Pool D with 9 points from three straight wins. Korea came in second place with 6 points from 2 wins against one loss, while Australia finished third with 3 points from one win against two losses and India ended in fourth position with no point claimed.
As only top two teams from each pool advanced to Round of last 8, teams from Pool A (Thailand, Uzbekistan) and Pool C (China, Kazakhstan) are assigned in Pool E, with those from Pool B (Japan, Iran) and Pool D (Chinese Taipei, Korea) contesting Pool F.
The third-placed teams in Pool A (Macao, China), Pool B (Philippines) and Pool C (Hong Kong, China) and third- and fourth-placed sides in Pool D (Australia, India) were relegated to Classification Round for 9th-13th places.
At Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium on Tuesday, Chinese Taipei, which won the first two matches against India and Korea, made it three in a row following their convincing straight-set win against Australia.
Talented Tseng Yu-Rou, who scored a match-high 18 points for Chinese Taipei in their tough match against Korea the previous day, remained a major force of the team to be reckoned with in this topflight championship. Opposite Tseng and middle blocker Tu Chia-Hsin joined forces in overcoming the taller blockers for the first set win 25-20.
Going down one set, Australia fought back hard in the second set, with the 196cm-tall Anni Tang producing efficient blocks. However, the on-going battle turned out to be completely lopsided, with Chinese Taipei attacking devastatingly to take the easy set 25-10.
In the third set, Australia maintained their poise and counter-attacked well with big hits from Rosie Alchin and Matisse Conlon and Tang’s blocks. Still, despite putting up a gallant fight , Australia found Chinese Taipei a tough nut to crack to go down in well-fought 20-25 set for the straight-set letdown.
Tseng Yu-Rou was a big name in the Chinese Taipei’s victory with 19 points from 17 kills and 2 aces scored against the rivals, while Chen Pin-Yu and Chen Yi added 12 and 9 points respectively. Anni Tang emerged as the top scorer of Australia with 12 points including 6 blocks.
In the second match, Korea bounced back from the straight-set down against Chinese Taipei to cruise to a fantastic straight-set win against India.
Successful first-combo attacks from outside hitter Park Yeoreum and fellow outside hitter Park Yunseo were the key weapons for the Korea’s win in the comfortable first two sets 25-11, 25-15. India tried to manage a comeback in the third set, but with Yeoreum and opposite Yoo Daeun on fire in attack, Korea managed to hold on to their advantage to put away the 25-16 winner to end the match and get the Korean party for their Round of 8 teams started.
Opposite Park Yunseo chipped in 15 points from 11 kills and four aces for Korea, with Park Yeoreum and Yoo Daeun contributing 14 and 5 points respectively. Middle blocker Mahak Singh led India with 8 points.
The third encounter at the Nakhon Pathom Gymnasium saw hosts Thailand, fresh from winning the 22nd “Princess Cup” Women’s U18 Southeast Asian Championship to their name, claim two matches in succession on Tuesday. After a comfortable straight-set victory against Macao, China the previous day, the Thai girls still performed superbly to outplay Uzbekistan in another one-sided affair.
Uzbekistan, led by middle blocker and skipper Absamatova Zebokhon, had no answer to exceptional spikes and effective blocks from Sasikan Kanoiu and Atitaya Kaewnok to go down tamely in easy three-setter 25-15, 25-9, 25-10 in 60 minutes.
Sasikan Kanoiu delivered 14 points including 11 attacks from 29 attempts for Thailand, while Atitaya Kaewnok added 13 and Nattharika Wasan 9. Dilshoda Odiljonova scored 5 points on the Uzbekistan’s loss.
Meanwhile, at Ratchaburi Gymnasium, formidable China went on their winning streak to outperform Hong Kong, China in straight sets. The Chinese girls, whose height average is 185cm against the smaller-built Hong Kong, China’s 170cm, dominated the whole match, taking the height advantage to attack mightily and block effectively.
Although Hong Kong, China played well in the first set, with outside hitter Tang Sum Yuen coming up with fine attacks, China took the competitive set 25-21 and maintained their momentum with consistent play in transition to win the remaining two sets 25-8, 25-10 for the exceptional 3-0 win.
Yang Shuming delivered 18 points from 15 kills, 2 blocks and one ace for China, while Zhai Yurui and Huang Yuexin kept good company to add 12 points apiece for the team’s victory. Tang Sum Yuen led Hong Kong, China with 11 points.
The day’s last match between title-holders Japan and Philippines saw the former dominant to give the latter a little chances of scoring against them. The Japanese girls stormed into the match with a lot of power and enthusiasm. A series of consecutive points from outside hitter Yuzuki Baba proved too much for the Filipinas as they went down in a lopsided first set 5-25.
The unforced errors started trickling in while the Japanese side cruised on in the next two sets, leaving the Philippines more scoring opportunities. However, Japan, powered by outside hitter Minami Kessoku and opposite Angelina Lili Murase, found their rhythm after that and they pounded on the rivals’ defence with their attacks to win 25-16, 25-14 and match.
Angelina Lili Murase topscored with 11 points including 10 attacks from 16 attempts for Japan, while Yuzuki Baba and Minami Kessoku chipped in 10 points apiece. Denesse Daylisan scored 5 points on the Philippines’ loss.
Wednesday is the rest day for physical recovery. The much-anticipated Round of 8 encounters will resume on Thursday, with Japan taking on Korea, Iran challenging Chinese Taipei, China facing Uzbekistan and hosts Thailand going up against Kazakhstan.
The Classification Round for 9th-13 places on the same day sees Macao, China facing Hong Kong, China and Philippines pitted against India.
RESULTS AND POOL RANKINGS
POOL A
POOL B
POOL C
POOL D
MATCH SCHEDULE
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