Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 28, 2022 – In-form Uzbekistan tasted their first victory at the “21st Princess Cup” 3rd AVC Women’s Challenge Cup after pulling off a dazzling 3-0 (25-19, 25-11, 25-20) win against Singapore at Nakhon Pathom Sports Centre Gymnasium here on Tuesday.
Both teams fought for the first win in the single round-robin competition after similarly suffering three straight matches. Uzbekistan made a strong start to stay in front with a 5-point clear at 6-1, thanks to ace serves from Nozima Jamlova and Mukhlisakhon Jalolova and aggressive attacks from the 180cm-tall Khodisakhon Toshkenboeva and left-hander Ezozakhon Sativoldieva. Singapore, trailing on bottom 6th at the standing as they have yet won a single set in the tournament, hit back but still suffered on poor reception and unforced attacking mistakes.
Uzbekistan went ahead 19-10 and stretched it to 24-16, needing only one more point to take the set. Still, Singapore staged a gallant fightback to score three points in a row to stay hot on the opponents’ heels. Most seem to forget the smaller, speedier setters creating all of the action with a simple flick of the wrists and Uzbek setter Jalolova also did the same thing. She proved to be the energy source of the team as she set the ball, but swiftly pushed it to the rivals’ side. The ball landed on the surface of the playing court and Uzbekistan took the set 25-19.
The second set looked like the similar scrip as the first one. Uzbekistan, which finished 8th at the recent 14th Asian Women’s U18 Championship at the same competition venue here, continued their impressive form to race to an initial 6-1 lead and widen it to 16-7, seizing the chance when the Singaporeans got the jitters and performed erratically.
Singapore tried hard to make a comeback, but the Uzbek girls defended well, fought back hard to moved ahead 20-9 and went on that great form to clinch the totally lopsided set 25-11.
The third set was more thrilling when the Singaporeans regained their form and fought back bravely, with Chua Jolyn Xin Yi firing some good shots to help the team level the scores 7-7 and again 10-10. However, the Uzbeks’ height at the net, led by the 181cm Aziza Joldasbaeva and the 181cm Khurshidabonu Rustamova, was causing havoc to the smaller-built Singaporean blockers. Uzbekistan advanced 19-15.
Singapore gradually pulled their game together and bounced back to narrow the margin 17-18, but the opponents still played cool under pressure and the Uzbeks stormed on to capture the set 25-20 and match.
Khodisakhon Toshkenboeva chipped in with 14 points from 12 attacks, one block and one ace for Uzbekistan, while team-mates Khurshidabonu Rustamova and Ezozakhon Sativoldieva kept good company to add 11 and 10 points respectively. No Singaporean player scored double digits, with Chin Yee Celine, Pua Le Jie and Lau Yue Ting Rachel claiming 7 points apiece for the losing side.
Uzbekistan will next take on Hong Kong, China, while Singapore challenge Malaysia on Wednesday, the final day of the six-day event.
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