Unbeaten Thailand surge into next round
Thailand kept their dream of making it to the semi-finals of the 10th Asian Girls U17 Volleyball Championship, the qualification tournament for the World Championship in Cyprus, alive by winning all their matches in the round-robin group stage.
World No 17 Thailand, who finished fifth in the previous edition in China, two years ago, ended the three-day preliminaries with a bang by collecting six points with two straight wins over Hong Kong and New Zealand to top Pool A.
Four-time reigning champions Japan and indomitable China maintained their unbeaten record, with the former thrashing Kazakhstan and Vietnam to top Pool B with six points. China, fielding two “giants” in 192cm-tall Li Yingying and the 194cm Han Wenya, topped Pool C beating the Philippines, India and Australia to claim nine points. South Korea captured the top spot in Pool D with six points from two wins.
With top two teams from each pool advancing, Thailand and New Zealand in Pool A, Japan and Kazakhstan in Pool B, Pool C’s China and the Philippines and Pool D’s Korea and Taiwan cruised to the round of last-eight teams.
“I wanted the girls to make it to the semi-finals. That is my initial target in the championship. I believe my girls will get a chance to fulfil their dreams. However, to reach the semi-finals, we have to take on some strong teams such as China. It’s not easy to play them, but if my girls show no fear, I’m sure it is possible,” Thailand’s head coach Tanasak Rattanarasri said.
The play-offs for the round of last-eight teams took place yesterday. China showed no mercy against New Zealand, crushing the underdogs in a totally lop-sided battle 25-10 25-11 25-4, while Japan outclassed Taiwan 25-18 25-14 25-16. South Korea won the first set over Kazakhstan 25-20 at press time. Thailand were due to play the Philippines in the last match.
A total of 13 teams are taking part in the 10th edition, with the top four from the championship clinching berths in the 20-team World Championship in Cyprus next year.
