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…
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