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The favourites continued their unbeaten run at the 15th Asian Junior Women’s Volleyball Championship, with three title-hotshots Japan, China and Korea registering successive two victories on Monday. China, former consecutive eight-time champions, proved too strong for Australia in the first two sets to win with ease 25-12 and 25-7. Aussies held on their nerves and started to produce the goods in the third set, which they were trailing 20-23. Still, the full-fledged Chinese boosted their confidence and bounced back mightily to end the rivals’ determined challenge 25-21. “We played well in the first two sets, but our reception was far from impressive in the third set. In my team, only seven players played in the Asian Youth Girls’ Volleyball Championship in Malaysia in May,” China’s head coach Xu Jiande commented. “We trained only one month in preparation for this tournament. It’s too early to say if we could win the title since there are many strong teams here. Japan and Korea played exceptionally and we can’t underestimate them. They play with the similar style with good defence. We next take on Korea. Though an uphill task awaits us, I wish we could beat them.” Meanwhile, Thailand struggled to beat archrivals Chinese Taipei 3-1. The Thai team, which captured the last week’s South East Asian Junior Women’s Volleyball Championship in Hanoi, comfortably netted the first-set win 25-15, but found the rivals a tough nut to crack in the second set. Chinese Taipei put their acts together to come up with all necessary elements required in the game – excellent blocking, spectacular spikes and powerful jump serves. They chased for every a single point, gradually pulling their game. Their determination bore fruits when they caught up with Thailand at 27-27. However, it was an upset tale for the Taiwanese girls at the end. Thailand performed superbly to bag straight two points to win the grueling rally 30-28. Though dropping two sets, Chinese Taipei were never-say-die. They came back much stronger, with explosive Wang Sin Ting unleashing a series of powerful cross-court spikes to help her team topple the error-prone rivals 25-13. The fourth set became more thrilling when both sides gave it all what they had. Thailand showed a clear-cut strategy that they would win the set without much trouble as they were leading 22-17. Nevertheless, Chinese Taipei proved them wrong. They challenged seriously to come close 23-24. Fortunately, the Thai girls recovered in time to hit back bravely with deadly spikes and stuff blocking. Thailand clinched the crucial point to win the hard-fought set 25-23 and the match. Despite the win, Thailand’s head coach Jarun Niemtubtim was not dissatisfied with his girls’ performance. “Their form did not live up to my expectation. They played inconsistently, making too many unforced mistakes. However, I think they have yet come up with their true form. Fortunately, we beat Chinese Taipei in four sets. If they happened to stretch it to five sets, we would have much problem to deal with.” Iran, which finished a distant 9th place at the Asian youth girls’ meet in Malaysia, produced their near-flawless performance in their gallant fight against powerhouse Korea before going down in thrilling four sets. The hard-attacking Koreans commandingly led 24-18 in the first set, but Iran clawed their ways back to win consecutive five points to come close 23-24. Park Jeong-Ah stopped the Iranians’ remarkable run with her deceptive drop in front of the net to help Korea win the hard-fought set 25-23. Korea shone through their exceptional skills in the second set to win 25-17. However, the Iranian girls did not give up easily. They came back mightily to mount a strong challenge against the fired-up rivals. Matching the Koreans competitively, Iran tied the score at 23-23 and continued their great form to win the see-saw battle 25-23, much to their fans’ delight. Iran did their best in the fourth set, but failed to make their mark in the tough battle against the team which won the inaugural Asian junior women’s meet in 1980 on home soil. Korea captured the set 25-20 and the exhausting four-set encounter. Earlier, India had little problems in thrashing debutantes Fiji in easy straight sets 25-8 25-12 25-22. At the Phan Dinh Phung Gymnasium, Japan also made it two in a row after overwhelming small-built Sri Lanka in a completely one-sided affair 25-7 25-9 25-8. Devastating left-hander Mari Horikawa topscored for Japan with 13 points. Kazakhstan, playing their first match in the Championship, proved a cut above New Zealand, brushing off the Kiwis in straight sets 25-19 25-13 25-8 in one hour, while Indonesia outclassed Hong Kong also in straight sets 25-17 25-11 25-22. Monday’s results At Tan Binh Gymnasium
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