Press release

On Thursday, Japan edged defending champions Thailand 3-2 (25-13, 20-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13) and China followed with a solid 3-1 (25-14, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16) win over Korea.

This is the 15th time (out of 16) that China have advanced to the gold-medal match. They only failed to enter the top two in the first edition in 1975. Japan are in the final for the eighth time and looking for their first title since 2007.

 

China have won 11 times and will battling for their 12th gold medal while Japan will be going for title No. 4.

 

Meanwhile, Thailand and Korea will clash in the bronze-match medal. In the other two matches on Friday, hosts Chinese Taipei, who downed Iran in straight sets (25-8, 25-18, 25-20), will play DPR Korea, who brushed aside Vietnam 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 27-25) for fifth place, while Iran will dispute the seventh slot with Vietnam.

The Championship doubles as a qualifier for both the FIVB Women’s World Cup 2011 and the FIVB World Grand Prix 2012. The eventual champions will move onto the World Cup, due to take place from November 4 to 18 in Japan. If Japan win the tournament, the runners-up will qualify. The top two teams, other than Japan and China, will also earn a spot at next year’s World Grand Prix.

Japan shattered Thailand’s hopes by beating the defending champions in a close five-setter (25-13, 20-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13).

 

Japan were led by Saori Kimura with 28 points, followed by Yukiko Ebata, who earned 24 points. Thailand’s best scorers were Onuma Sittirak with 24 points and Malika Kanthong with 21 points.

 

Thailand coach R. Kiattipong congratulated Japan after the match: “It was a good game between the two teams, and there are many things we can learn from each other. Good luck to Japan in the final. Thanks to our fans, our king and princess.”

 

Japanese head coach Masayoshi Manabe commented on his team’s performance: “It was very good for us to be able to win. Thailand is a good team, both in their techniques and their height, and we can learn a lot from them.” 

 

 

China scored a convincing 3-1 (25-14, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16) victory over their archrivals Korea to set up a gold-medal clash against Japan 

 

China’s serving proved to be more destructive as they picked up 11 points on their serve. Their top scorer was Hui Ruoqi with 20 points, followed by Wang Yimei (17 points) and Yang Junjing (15). Korean ace Kim Yeon Koung also showed her firepower with 21 points, followed by middle blocker Jun Dae Young with 11 points.

 

Korea coach Kim Hyun Sil commented after the match: “Congratulations to China as they made it to the finals. We were not successful in overcoming their superior height and power.”

 

Korea’s captain and setter Lee Hyo Hee said: “Our reception was not good and that’s why we lost the game.”

 

China’s coach Yu Juemin and top scorer Hui Ruoqi both attributed their victory to good preparation. “We were very glad to be able to play such a good game, and we could win because we prepared very well,” Hui Ruoqi observed. “Korea is a good team and Kim Yeon Koung gave us a lot of pressure during the match.”

 

 

DPR Korea showed their formidable fighting spirit, making two amazing comebacks in the second and third sets to beat Vietnam 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 27-25) and proceed to Friday’s match for fifth place against Chinese Taipei.

 

DPR Korea’s Jong Jin Sim dominated the court with 24 points, 23 from her powerful spikes. Her teammate Kim Yong Mi snatched 11 points. Vietnam’s captain Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa scored 14 points followed by Pham Thi Kim Kue’s 12.

 

 

Hosts Chinese Taipei downed Iran in straight sets (25-8, 25-18, 25-20) in the 5-8 classification tournament. The first two sets finished in 42 minutes as Chinese Taipei were led by Lin Chun Yi’s bombardment of quick spikes. Lin Chun Yi alone took 14 points in this match, topping players in both teams. 

 

Chinese Taipei coach Norimasa Sakakuchi said after the match: “I sent on more young players in order to train them and to make them more experienced, although this sometimes interferes with the original rhythm of the starting players. If my players keep their proactive attitude tomorrow, we should have no problem in the match against DPR Korea.”

 

 

Kazakhstan defeated Australia in straight sets 3-0 (26-24, 25-14, 25-21) and secured ninth place.

 

Kazakhstan’s top scorer, Olga Drobyshevskaya, seized 16 points, including 14 spikes, followed by Pimenova’s 10. Australia’s Rachel Rourke topped her team again with 11 points and was the only player on her team to score in double figures.

 

 

India knocked down Sri Lanka 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-13, 25-19) to finish 11th in the tournament.

 

India’s best scorer, Abraham Minimol, earned 17 points for her team with 12 spikes and five blocks. Three other Indian players also achieved double figures: Joy Jomol had 16 points, while K. Reshma and V. Soumya grabbed 12 and 11, respectively. Sri Lanka’s Somarasiri Leena scored 12 points, including 11 spikes, followed by Wasana’s 10.