In an electrifying final at the Asian Women’s Under-20 Volleyball Championship on Tuesday, China clinched their 13th title by defeating Japan 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 14-25, 15-10) in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province.
After securing five consecutive victories en route to the final, losing only one set in the process, China faced a familiar rival in Japan. The two teams had met 12 times previously, with China falling short in the last two championship matches in 2022 and 2018.
The final began with Japan seizing the momentum, taking the first set 25-23 and leading 17-15 in the second. Undeterred, China mounted a comeback with a decisive 10-4 run to claim the second set 25-21. Building on their resurgence, the hosts dominated the third set, winning 25-17.
However, Japan was not ready to concede. In a remarkable display of resilience, they scored 11 consecutive points in the fourth set, taking it 25-14 and leveling the match at two sets apiece.
The decisive fifth set saw China burst ahead with a commanding 13-5 lead. Japan rallied once more, narrowing the gap to 10-13, but China’s determination prevailed. With a powerful ace, they sealed the victory at 15-10, ending an eight-year title drought in the tournament.
“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,” said Wang Yidi, captain of the Chinese team.
“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,” said head coach Kuang Qi.
China’s triumph reflects their growing strength and unity, offering a promising outlook for the future of women’s volleyball in the country and the region.
Reference(s):
China beat Japan to win Asian Women's U20 Volleyball Championship
cgtn.com
