China wins Asian Girls’
Volleyball Championship
China, Korea, Chinese Taipei Qualify for World U19
Championships
 Mandaue
City, Philippines, May 31, 2005 – Top seeds China claimed
the title as Asian youth girls’ champions after defeating
Korea in five sets 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 23-25, 27-25, 15-9) in
the final of the 5th Asian Youth Girls’ Volleyball
Championship on Tuesday.
China, easily the strongest team in the nine-team
championship, did not lose one set in the six matches of
group, quarterfinal and semifinal play, including a 3-0 win
over Korea in the preliminary group competition.
But in the finals, China met an unexpected and strong
challenge from Korea. China, after taking the first set
25-22, lost the next two sets with the same score of 23-25.
Behind at 1-2, China did their utmost to use every ounce of
energy, clinching the crucial set 27-25 before running away
in the tiebreaker.
In the playoff for the third place, Chinese Taipei rallied
from two sets down to beat Japan also in five sets.
According to FIVB regulations, the top three finishers -
China, Korea and Chinese Taipei - qualify for the 2005
Girls’ U18 World Championship in Macau, to be held from July
23-31.
The Championships drew a total of nine teams which were
divided into two groups for the preliminary round from May
24-28. The hosts the Philippines were pooled into Group A
with Chinese Taipei, Japan and Australia while China,
Thailand, Korea, India and Vietnam were in Group B.
In the second round held on May 29, China and Korea, top two
in Group B, beat the Philippines and Australia, the third
and fourth placers in Group A, in straights sets to enter
the semifinals while Japan of Group A defeated Vietnam of
Group B 3-2 and Chinese Taipei from Group A downed Thailand
3-0, claiming the chance to meet China and Korea in the
semifinals. In the semifinals, China and Korea defeated
their opponents, booking the finals berths.
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