In an electrifying showdown at the Asian Women's Under-20 Volleyball Championship final, China emerged victorious over Japan with a close 3-2 win (23-25, 25-21, 25-17, 14-25, 15-10) held in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province.
Securing five straight wins to reach the final, China showcased their dominance by losing only one set throughout the tournament. This marked their 13th championship title and a sweet revenge over Japan, having been defeated by them in the previous two finals in 2022 and 2018.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions. Japan started strong, taking the first set 25-23 and leading 17-15 in the second. However, China turned the tide with a decisive 10-4 run, claiming the second set 25-21. The hosts continued their momentum in the third set with a solid 25-17 win. Not to be outdone, Japan battled back fiercely, winning the fourth set 25-14 and leveling the match at 2-2.
In the final set, China quickly built a 13-5 lead. Despite Japan's resilient effort to narrow the gap to 10-13, China's determination prevailed as they sealed the victory with a crucial ace, ending an eight-year title drought.
\"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.
Kuang Qi, China's coach, added, \"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.\"
Reference(s):
China beat Japan to win Asian Women's U20 Volleyball Championship
cgtn.com
