Spikers scent medals as they enter quarters
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Asian champions and world No 12 Thailand will take on Kazakhstan in today's knockout quarter-finals of the Asian Games women's volleyball competition, while the men's side join China, Japan and Kuwait in Pool F as their competition is whittled down to
The Thai women beat Japan in their opener, lost to South Korea in straight sets on Tuesday then bounced back to brush off India in their last group-stage match. Hosts South Korea topped Pool A with nine points from three straight wins, ahead of Thailand with six points from two wins against one loss. Japan and India finished third and fourth respectively.
Title-holders China led Pool B with a perfect nine points, with Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and Maldives finishing second, third, fourth and fifth respectively.
In today’s quarter-finals, Thailand will take on Kazakhstan at Songnim Gymnasium from 3pm. The other quarter-final encounters see China against India at 10am, south Korea against Hong Kong at 12.30pm and Taiwan against Japan at 5.30pm.
Meanwhile, the Thai men’s squad on Thursday went down to the towering Chinese in straight sets 16-25 19-25 22-25 to finish second in Pool D. Despite the loss, Thailand, who finished a surprise fourth place at the previous Games in China four years ago, advance to Pool F with Japan, Kuwait and China. Qualified in Pool E are South Korea, Qatar, Iran and India.
The men’s quarter-finals take place tomorrow.
In badminton, Thailand completed their Incheon campaign empty-handed after medal hope Ratchanon Intanon committed a flurry of unforced errors before losing to world No 6 Bae Yeonju of South Korea 4-21 21-18 8-21 in the women’s singles quarter-finals.
In boxing, Thai fighters are dropping like flies at the Asian Games, with Thai light-heavyweight Anavat Thongkrathok the third Thai to exit the men’s event in the first round, while Sailom Ardee went down to South Korean Han Soonchul 0-3 in the men’s lightweight round of 16.
