China players are mentally and physically sound
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Chinese fans focused on the scoreboard during the fifth set of their match against Korea |
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Yu Juemin, Coach of China: I think our players played really well today. We did 100% preparation. We knew we needed to get points from this match to get a better ranking in the pool. We played well both mentally and physically, especially in the fifth set we had confidence to win the whole match.
Ma Yunwen, Player of China: It was really difficult today. We did a very good preparation, we knew we were going to have a tough match. Wang Yimei's injury (right ankle) made it very difficult for us to play. We are not in our best condition now, but other players all tried their best, so we won.
On how they came from behind to win the first set 28-26:
We didn't give up, we knew for our older players this is probably going to be the last Olympics.
Yang Junjing, Player of China: We are very happy to win and excited to qualify.
On the quarterfinals:
We don't think about who we are going to play in the quarterfinals, we are just going to prepare it the best we can to win. We don't have any objective for the next round of the competition, we just want to show spirit and Chinese characteristic and unity to play against the next team.
Kim Hyung Sil, Coach of Korea:
On rumours that China and Korea agreed to take the match to five sets to both qualify for the quarterfinals and have their opponents decided by lottery:
"There was a similar rumour when we went to a training camp in China last year, but it doesn't make sense. There is no way we would do this."
On his belief that Korea could qualify for the quarterfinals:
"When we played against Turkey, we lost 3-2 and earned one point and today we earned another point to take us to eight (points). I knew that could happen."
Kim Yeon-Koung, Player of Korea:
On whether Korea were aware that if the match finished 3-2 both teams would advance to the quarterfinals and their opponents would be decided by lottery:
"No, no, we didn't know. We didn't think about this. We had to win and we were glad to get a point, but we tried to fight them all the way."
On who they want to play in the quarterfinals:
"We don't know really. We are ready for every team. Maybe Russia are the ones we don't want to play because they are very strong and tall, but we want to beat anyone."
On Kim cooking for her teammates:
"Yes I've been cooking and last night we ate Korean food because it makes us strong. Before the China game we ate Korean food. We'll do the same tonight. Our favourite is kimchi."
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