China swept Canada 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-18) within the ladies’s sitting volleyball semifinals on the Paris 2024 Paralympic Video games in North Paris Enviornment on Thursday, led by captain Xu Yixiao’s stellar efficiency. The victory units up a fifth consecutive Paralympic remaining showdown with the USA, the place China will intention for his or her file fourth gold medal.
Xu was the standout participant, main all scorers with 17 factors, together with 10 assaults, 4 blocks, and three aces. Tang Xuemei contributed 12 factors, whereas Zhang Lijun added 10. On the Canadian aspect, Sarah Melenka top-scored with 12 factors, whereas Danielle Ellis and Heidi Peters each chipped in with 11.
The match started with Xu making an instantaneous influence, blocking Canada’s captain Ellis to open the scoring. China shortly established a 9-3 lead, with contributions from all their gamers, showcasing a well-rounded assault. Canada, led by Ellis and Julie Kozun, tried to remain within the contest and reduce the result in 10-7. Nevertheless, China continued to use stress, and with their balanced offensive strategy, they widened the hole to 24-15. Regardless of Ellis saving one set level, a service error from Melenka handed China the set at 25-16.
China carried their momentum into the second set, with Xu and Tang Xuemei taking management early on. Canada briefly responded, with Peters main a service run that lowered the Chinese language result in 7-5. Nonetheless, China’s technique of spreading the ball to completely different attackers saved the Canadian defence on the again foot, permitting them to increase the result in 14-10. A string of Chinese language errors gave Canada hope as they closed the hole to 24-22, however Tang’s highly effective spike ended the set 25-22, giving China a two-set benefit.
Within the third set, Xu as soon as once more opened the scoring, breaking by way of Canada’s defence. Though China took an early lead, the Canadians fought arduous, ultimately equalising at 15-15 after Kozun landed an ace. Xu stepped up at a essential second, whereas back-to-back Canadian errors compelled coach Nicole Ban to name a timeout with the rating at 13-10. Ellis saved the combat alive, reducing the result in 15-14, and Kozun’s ace levelled the rating at 15-15. Each groups traded assaults in a tense trade, nevertheless it was China that gained a vital two-point edge at 19-17, due to Tang’s assaults. Xu continued her dominant play, serving to China construct a 22-17 lead and establishing match level at 24-18. Wang Yanan delivered the ultimate blow, closing the set and match 25-18.
Photograph: WPV/Sinisa Kanizaj.
