China stunned Thailand and Japan beat Vietnam in semifinals to remain unbeaten in Hangzhou
Hangzhou, China, October 6, 2023 – Indomitable China pulled off sensational win over Thailand to face off against Japan in the Saturday’s final clash of the two unbeaten teams in the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 Women’s Volleyball Competition at Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Gymnasium.
China, current world No.6, reigning champions and silver medallists at this year’s VNL, stunned world No.13 and Asian Championship title-holders Thailand 3-0, while Japan put it past the fighting Vietnam 3-1 in the Friday’s action-packed semifinals at the packed venue.
In the first semifinal clash on Friday, world No.9 Japan, former five-time Asian Games gold medallists but fielding second-string squad in the Hangzhou Asian Games including seven players who joined the bronze-winning team at the Nakhon Ratchasima-hosted 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Championship in Thailand in September, survived a huge scare from Vietnam to stun the world No.39 in hard-fought four-setter 26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16.
With the dramatic victory, undefeated Japan stormed into the Asian Games final showdown for the first time in 17 years since they last made it at the 2006 Doha Games in Qatar, where they succumbed to a disappointing 1-3 loss to the eventual winners China.
Against the fast-improving Vietnam, winners at the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Championship under the Sport Center 1’s banner and AVC Challenge Cup champions which made their presence felt in this year’s FIVB Volleyball Challenger Cup in France, the formidable Japanese fought neck and neck to trade attacks and points in the close first set.
Hard-hitting Tanaka Mizuki fired a first-tempo attack to deliver the set point at 24-23 for Japan, but middle blocker Tran Thi Bich Thuy and setter Doan Thi Lam Oanh saved the day for Vietnam with their solid block against an aggressive spike from Tanaka Muzuki. Still, the Japanese outside hitter was unstoppable as she attacked devastatingly to bag two points in a row for the Japan’s hard-fought 26-24 win.
Conceding one set, Vietnam fought hard for a comeback in the second set, but the Japanese shattered the opponents’ high hopes with their exceptional skills including combination attacks and impeccable defense.
The Japanese maintained a margin that varied anywhere from one to three points for a while with their attacking and blocking efforts making the difference. The…
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