Hangzhou, China, October 1, 2023 – Star spiker Tran Thi Thanh Thuy scored a match-high 24 points to help Vietnam in terrific comeback 3-2 win against Korea, as Thailand, China, Japan and Kazakhstan pulled off convincing wins on action-packed Day 2 of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Women’s Volleyball Competition at Deqing Sports Center Gymnasium and Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium on Sunday.
The eagerly-anticipated clash between world No.40 Korea and world No.39 Vietnam turned into an intense encounter on Sunday and a rematch of the latest confrontation at the recent Nakhon Ratchasima-hosted Asian Senior Women’s Championship in Thailand in September.
At the 22nd edition of the Asian Championship there, Vietnam, which captured the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup to their name, bounced back from losing the first two sets to take the remaining three for the eventual 3-2 victory against Korea. Likewise here in Hangzhou, the determined Vietnamese succumbed to the first two-set loss 16-25, 22-25 to formidable Korea, but they did not give up easily, counter-attacking well in the third and fourth sets which they won 25-22, 25-22 to force the tie-break.
The decider became a see-saw battle, with both sides trading attacks and points. Leveling at 10-10, the Vietnamese played more aggressively and consistently to surge ahead 12-11 and held on their advantage to win the set 15-11. The stunning win also turned the electric atmosphere of the Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium into one of absolute joy with a hard-fought 3-2 victory which made the Vietnamese fans inside the venue erupted in celebration.
Team captain and outside hitter Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who landed the MVP award at this year’s AVC Challenge Cup, had a spectacular 24-point performance facing the VNL core team. Tran Thi Bich Thuy and Tran Tu Linh added another 17 and 14 points respectively. Outside hitter Kang Sohwi led Korea with 23 points from 21 attacks and 2 blocks. Skipper and outside hitter Park Jeongah contributed 18 points in the team’s loss.
As Vietnam completed their Pool C encounters, Korea will play their last preliminary match against Nepal in a must-win situation to keep their hopes of advancing to the Top 8 round alive.
In the second match at Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium on Sunday, world No.32 Kazakhstan managed a comfortable 3-0 (25-13, 25-12, 25-15) shutout of Hong Kong, China in their Pool D clash.
The battle turned out to be one-way traffic as the much stronger Kazakhs, whose height average is 180cm against the smaller-built Hong Kong, China’s 174cm, dominated the whole match with their superb skills and combination attacks for the straight-set win, a repeated success of Kazakhstan over Hong Kong, China. In September, the Kazakh side had already beaten the same opponents in straight sets in Pool D at the 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Championship in Thailand.
Skipper and outside hitter Sana Anarkulova chipped in with 18 points from 15 kills and 3 blocks for Kazakhstan, while opposite Tatyana Nikitina and middle blocker Kristina Anikonova kept good company to score 13 points apiece. Captain and outside hitter Chim Wing Lam led Hong Kong, China with 9 points including 8 attacks from 24 attempts.
Kazakhstan will next go up against Japan to vie for the Pool D winners, while Hong Kong, China will fight it out with Asian Games debutants Afghanistan in pursuit of their first victory in Hangzhou.
The last match at the HZNU Gymnasium saw indomitable Japan, fielding nine players from the bronze-winning team at the recent Asian Championship in Thailand, show no mercy to Afghanistan, tearing the inexperienced rivals’ defence into pieces with their exceptional attacks and allowed the underdogs only 7 points throughout the completely one-sided battle. Japan captured the fantastic 3-0 (25-2, 25-0, 25-5) win.
Outside hitter Yuka Sato and fellow outside hitter Miwako Osanai joined forces in handing Japan 15 points apiece for the win, while Mohaddese Amiri was the lone Afghan scorer in this match with only one attack point.
With two wins in succession, Japan and Kazakhstan are assured of securing the Top 8 berths. The Monday clash among them will decide the top spot in Pool D.
At the Deqing Sports Center Gymnasium, world No.13 and Asian champions Thailand powered past Chinese Taipei, which finished a disappointing 9th place at the Asian meet, with dramatic 3-1 (25-18, 24-26, 25-12, 25-13) victory for their very first win in the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Thailand had three players reaching double digits in scoring, with outside hitter Ajcharaporn Kongyot leading the way with 19 points (18 kills and one block). Fellow outside hitter Wipawee Srithong added with another 14 points from 13 kills and one ace.
Middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang completed the list with 12 points (10 kills and 2 blocks). Outside hitter Lin Shu-Ho was the most productive player of Chinese Taipei, scoring 14 points, all in attack.
Thailand dominated all skills in this match leading their opponents in kills (67 to 48), blocks (9 to 6) and aces (4 to 2) aside from benefiting from more opponent errors (19 to 13).
Chinese Taipei completed their Pool B encounters, while Thailand will play their last preliminary match on Monday against Mongolia.
Meanwhile, China, current world No.6, defending champions and silver medallists at this year’s VNL, celebrated the National Day of the People’s Republic of China on October 1 with their exceptional straight-set win 25-9, 25-9, 25-9 against India, much to the home fans’ delight.
Outside hitter Wang Yunlu topscored with 10 points including 7 kills and 2 aces for China, while opposite Gong Xiangyu and outside hitter Li Yingying added 9 points apiece. Skipper and outside hitter Nirmal led India with 5 points, all in attack.
With two losses in a row and only top two teams from each pool advancing, India completed their Pool A encounters and missed the cut for the Top 8 round for sure. China and DPR Korea will battle it out on Monday to determine the Pool A winners.
Teams will contest their last matches in the pool round-robin preliminaries on Monday, with Thailand taking on Mongolia in Pool B and DPR Korea going up against China in Pool A at Deqing Sports Center Gymnasium. The encounters at Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium see Nepal challenge Korea in Pool C, Japan face off against Kazakhstan and Hong Kong, China fight it out with Afghanistan in Pool D.
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