2006 World Championships   More World Championship news       Tournament info: China

Australia women take a step further towards World Championship finals

Ningbo, China, August 4, 2005 - Chinese Taipei outclassed Uzbekistan 3-0 at the World Championship first round tournament Asia Group A being held here on Thursday, while Australia clinched their second victory taking a step further towards winning a berth in the finals of the 2006 World Championships.

Lin Ching I and Liu Li Fang each scored 10 points in the 25-10, 25-13, 25-11 victory, the first for Chinese Taipei in the five-team round-robin group after they had the bye on Wednesday.

Both sides started strongly in the opening set, but Chinese Taipei grabbed a narrow lead 4-3 before surging ahead at 17-7 and closing out the set thanks to some fierce spikes by towering Chen Mei Ching.

Uzbekistan, who had only seven players at their disposal, again looked dangerous in the early stages of the second set but Chinese Taipei gradually took command through its fluid attack and imposing block. It was the same story in the third set, in which Uzbekistan cut Chinese Taipei's lead to 12-8 but couldn't get any closer.

"To be honest, our team is the better one between the two teams," said Chinese Taipei head coach Lin Kuang Hung. "I think Uzbekistan lacks talent, while we have a strong pool of young players," he added.

Despite having lost their second straight game here, Uzbekistan coach Leonid Ayrapetyants believes his side will eventually challenge more regularly on the world stage. "My players are very young, but I don't think it is a problem. I believe they will become a good team in two years' time," said Ayrapetyants.

In the other match, Australia defeated Jordan in straight sets for their second victory in as many days. Rachel Rourke scored 13 points, including eight spikes from 14 attempts to lead the Australians to a 25-8, 25-5, 25-8 win in 49 minutes. Australia downed Uzbekistan 3-0 on Wednesday.

Australia's head coach Jiang Ying, a former player of the Chinese national team in the 1980s, said that she had expected the result.

"We just focused on our own game. I made several substitutions in the third set because I wanted to gave young players more chances," Jiang said.
 
Jordan, who are competing in their first major international event, found no answers to the Australians' hard-hitting, high-jumping attack but still produced some entertaining play in the third set.

"Our performance today was better than yesterday against China. I hope we will become better tomorrow," said Jordan captain Thalji Shereen.

Australia now has a record of two wins and one loss, followed by China and Chinese Taipei both with one win from as many matches.

China, the Olympic and World Cup winners, are certain to win one of the two tickets on offer to the World Championship Finals scheduled to be held in Japan from October 31-November 16 next year. Australia and Chinese Taipei will fight for the other ticket.