China Clinches 13th Asian Women’s U20 Volleyball Championship After Thrilling Win Over Japan
In an electrifying final at the Asian Women’s Under-20 Volleyball Championship in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, China emerged victorious against Japan with a hard-fought 3-2 win (23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 14-25, 15-10) on Tuesday. This triumph marks China’s 13th title in the tournament’s history and ends an eight-year title drought.
China entered the final with a flawless record, having secured five straight wins while dropping only one set. Facing their long-time rivals, Japan, the match was a rematch of the previous two finals in 2022 and 2018, both of which China had lost.
The intense showdown began with Japan taking the first set 25-23. In the second set, Japan maintained momentum and led 17-15 before China mounted a spirited comeback with a 10-4 run to level the match. Boosted by the home crowd, China dominated the third set 25-17. However, Japan refused to back down, surging with an 11-point streak to claim the fourth set 25-14, setting the stage for a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, China surged ahead to a 13-5 lead. Japan displayed resilience, narrowing the gap to 10-13, but China held their nerve. With a powerful ace, they sealed the victory at 15-10, igniting celebrations among the players and fans.
“It was pretty rocky for us in the beginning, but we started to enjoy the match after adjusting our mentality. It was not easy for us to win the title,” reflected Wang Yidi, the captain of the Chinese team.
Head coach Kuang Qi praised his team’s unity and potential: “We were fighting as one tonight. Although we experienced ups and downs in the match, we won it and we will be more confident. I see many hopes in these girls, both technically and mentally; they are the future.”
China’s win not only signifies a return to dominance in the Under-20 category but also highlights the promising talent poised to impact the sport’s future in the region.
