Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, June 23, 2024 – China ended a 19-year title drought within the Asian Girls’s U18 Volleyball Championship after convincing straight-set win towards reigning champions Japan within the Sunday’s showdown to seize their title with outstanding unbeaten report.
Because the championship inception in 1997 in Yala, Thailand, China had received this flagship biennial match for 4 instances. They captured their maiden title in 1999 and continued their back-to-back wins in 2001, 2003 and 2005. The fifteenth version in 2024 was the China’s fifth title to their title.
After that, Japan, which claimed their first title in 1997, took an absolute management of the championship, successful it in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2022. The championship was cancelled in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
The straight-set sweeps highlighted Sunday, the final day of the eight-day competitors, which served because the Asian qualification for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’ U19 World Championship.
The highly-anticipated showdown between China and Japan noticed the previous cruise to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 26-24) win towards the latter, whereas Chinese language Taipei surprised Thailand and their dwelling followers 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-23) to return with a well-earned bronze medal.
As high 4 groups within the top-tier championship certified for the subsequent 12 months’s U19 World Championship, China, Japan, Chinese language Taipei and Thailand have been assured of securing their berths for the world meet.
Within the playoff matches, Korea took the fifth place after 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17) blitz over Iran, whereas Kazakhstan trounced Uzbekistan 3-0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-21) to return with the seventh place.
En path to their ninth ultimate showdown towards the identical rivals on Sunday, China have but misplaced a single set to their respective rivals. Within the semifinals earlier, the Chinese language ladies powered previous Chinese language Taipei in straight units , whereas Japan additionally did likewise, dismissing hosts Thailand in three-setter.
In opposition to title-holders Japan, China fielded a robust lineup led by reverse and skipper Yang Shuming and center blockers Wang Aoqian and Shen Jiayi, whereas Japan, going unbeaten till the showdown, have been robust offensively with the likes of outdoor hitters Minami Kessoku and Rion Chuganji.
As Japan defended spectacularly in some essential moments, China managed to step in entrance early within the first set and by no means regarded again to succeed in set level 25-22. Japan despatched in Niji Sato to enhance on their defence, however their makes an attempt have been in useless as Wang Aoqian hammered an off-the-block kill handy China the primary set win 25-22.
China nonetheless gained an higher hand to take an preliminary 7-3 lead earlier than extending it to 21-17. Wang Aoqian showcased her expertise to attain two factors in a row to deliver China to the set level 24-17. Minori Izutani saved the day for Japan together with her sharp cross-court spike however her effort solely gave the crew a short breath for air since shortly after that, Zhai Yurui attacked Japan together with her positive assault to finish the rivals on this match 25-18.
The third set noticed Japan lead from the start 13-11 and confirmed resilience with consistency to widen it to 22-20 and 24-23, needing just one extra level to win the set. Nonetheless, China pulled their recreation collectively and managed to catch them at 24-24, because of Zhai Yurui’s off-speed assault. China stormed on to win the remaining two factors to seize the set 26-24 and championship.
Yang Shuming and Wang Aoqian chipped in 15 factors apiece for China, whereas Yuzuki Baba scored a match-high 18 factors on the Japan’s loss.
It was the third ultimate showdown on the identical venue right here between the identical opponents, however this time, China avenged the loss to Japan within the earlier two editions with a improbable straight-set win for an ideal sweep by not dropping a set on this championship.
Within the third-place playoff match earlier, Chinese language Taipei, which completed fifth within the earlier version, returned with their heads excessive in confidence and satisfaction following their straight-set 25-17, 25-21, 25-23 win towards hosts Thailand for bronze medal.
Chinese language Taipei have been unbelievable dominant in defensive system orchestrated by Chen Pin-Yu, Chen Yi and Tseng Yu-Rou to win the snug first set 25-17. Nonetheless, the host facet battled again, however the guests held their nerves and counter-attacked to win the second set 25-21.
Thailand had an opportunity to come back again within the third set, however Chinese language Taipei have been simply too good and by no means gave up simply to take the hard-fought set 25-23, match and bronze medal.
Chen Pin-Yu delivered 20 factors from 16 kills, one block and three aces for Chinese language Taipei. The robust guests additionally carried out properly to restrict the Thai aggression in scoring towards them which noticed no Thai participant attain double digits. Wisaruta Sengna scored 9 factors on the crew’s loss.
As Chinese language Taipei picked up bronze medal, Thailand completed a well-earned fourth place, the same place they’d achieved two years in the past on the identical venue right here.
Korea, which claimed bronze on the earlier version, needed to be content material with fifth place this time as they managed a 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-17) shutout of Iran within the Fifth-Sixth playoff conflict.
Park Yeoreum was the Korea’s best participant with 15 factors from 13 kills and a couple of blocks, whereas Kim Jiyoon and Ha Yeji added 10 factors apiece. Ayda Valinezhad led Iran with 13 factors together with 12 assaults from 29 makes an attempt.
The Seventh-Eighth place playoff match between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan noticed the previous outplay the latter in a one-sided battle 25-8, 25-14, 25-21. Kazakhstan returned with an improved efficiency. After an Eighth-placed end within the earlier version, Kazakhstan got here in Seventh place this time, whereas Uzbekistan completed the same Eighth they’d achieved two years in the past right here.
Center blocker Saltanat Aidarbekova chipped in 17 factors from 12 assaults, 2 blocks and three aces for Kazakhstan, whereas Zebokhon Absamatova led Uzbekistan with 10 factors together with 8 assaults from 11 makes an attempt.
RESULTS AND POOL RANKINGS
POOL 1-4
POOL 5-8
FINAL RANKING
CHAMPIONS: CHINA
SILVER: JAPAN
BRONZE: CHINESE TAIPEI
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
BEST OUTSIDE HITTERS
BEST MIDDLE BLOCKERS
BEST OPPOSITE
BEST SETTER
BEST LIBERO
MVP
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The publish CHINA END 19-YEAR TITLE DROUGHT AFTER 3-0 DEMOLITION OF REIGNING CHAMPS JAPAN IN 15TH ASIAN WOMEN’S U18 CHAMPIONSHIP appeared first on Asian Volleyball Confederation.
