Vietnam Shocks S.Korea to Win Asian Volleyball Championship

On Wednesday, Vietnam made an impressive comeback to triumph 3-2 against South Korea in the inaugural match of the 2023 Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship in Thailand.

Administrator

6 September, 2023

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South Korea, currently ranked 35th globally, brought a strong team to the tournament. Nine out of 14 athletes from their recent participation in the 2023 Women’s Volleyball Nations League are part of this formidable line-up. This positions them 13 spots ahead of Vietnam in the rankings.

Vietnamese head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet judiciously called upon his top players, notably Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, Doan Thi Lam Oanh, and Nguyen Khanh Dang.

The match took place at the prestigious Nakhon Ratchasima Stadium in Thailand. As predicted, South Korea dominated the game by winning the first two sets.

In the initial match, Vietnam successfully equalized the score at 22-22, however, they encountered difficulties in countering their opponent’s formidable shots, ultimately leading to a 22-25 defeat.

During the second set, South Korea continued to showcase their strong serves and impressive defense, resulting in consistent attacks that ultimately led to a well-earned 25-19 win.

In a crucial third set, Vietnam displayed unwavering determination as they relentlessly pursued each point after trailing 12-16 against their rival. With their unwavering determination, Vietnam secured a crucial triumph of 25-23.

The victory in this set gave a significant boost to Vietnam’s confidence, while South Korea began to display signs of waning stamina.

When the score was tied at 14-14, Vietnam went on a remarkable run, scoring several consecutive points and ultimately securing a victory in the fourth set with a score of 25-17.

Match Result

After a closely contested game, both teams made it to the fifth and final set.

Vietnam’s Tran Thi Thanh Thuy defends South Korea’s attack at their Group C opening match at the 2023 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship held in Thailand, August 30, 2023. Photo: Asian Volleyball Confederation

Vietnam’s Tran Thi Thanh Thuy defends against South Korea’s attack in their Group C match at the 2023 Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship held in Thailand, August 30, 2023. Photo: Asian Volleyball Confederation

The South Korean team displayed a significant decline in morale, resulting in a multitude of errors and defensive difficulties.

Vietnam maintained a consistent lead throughout the match and ultimately triumphed with a 15-13 victory, securing a 3-2 overall conquest over South Korea.

This victory has presented Vietnam with a valuable opportunity to take the lead in Group C. This advantage is further amplified by the relatively lower ratings of the remaining two competitors, Taiwan and Uzbekistan.

Securing the top spot will allow Vietnam to advance to the second group stage as the highest-ranked team, reducing the probability of facing formidable opponents and increasing their likelihood of finishing within the top four positions in the final standings.

The 2023 Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship is currently being held in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand until September 6. The tournament features fourteen teams divided into four groups, all vying for the championship title.

The top three teams in the tournament will secure a place in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.

China has emerged as the dominant force in the event’s history, securing an impressive 13 titles out of the 20 previous editions. Japan follows with five wins, while Thailand has secured two titles of their own.

Unfortunately, the 2021 edition of this event had to be canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we look forward to hosting the event again in the future when it is safe to do so. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Vietnam’s most noteworthy accomplishment was securing fifth place in both 2015 and 2017.

The upcoming match against Uzbekistan is scheduled for Thursday at 6:00 pm.