Basketball

Việt Nam show perfect performance to beat Chinese Taipei 3-1 in their Group C match of the Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship. Photos of AVC

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam topped Group C after winning 3-1 over Chinese Taipei in the Asian Senior Women's Volleyball Championship on September 1 in Thailand.

It was the second meet of the two teams within two months. In the first one at the AVC Challenge Cup, Việt Nam won 3-0 and went on to secure the winning title for the first time.

In the Nakhon Ratchasima fight, the Vietnamese focused and determined for a win which ensured their top place and a berth in the second qualification round.

Chinese Taipei meanwhile needed a win to take the second position in Group C and enter the tournament's top eight.

Việt Nam under captain Trần Thị Thanh Thúy faced with strong defence from Chinese Taipei which went ahead in the first minutes of the first set.

But Thúy's storm volleys were irresistible, helping Việt Nam level the score at 11-11 before taking the set at 25-18.

Despite their great effort, Chinese Taipei suffered the same defeat in the second set which ended 25-22.

The Vietnamese however suddenly played under expected in the third set, giving Chinese Taipei the chance to perform their best to secure a 25-18 win. But it was all they could do before suffering a 25-17 loss in the fourth set at The Mall Korat Department Store.

With all three wins Việt Nam perfectly completed the first qualification as the group leader with nine points.

At the same time, South Korea had no trouble in demolishing Uzbekistan 25-12, 25-15, 25-12 to collect six points in total at Chartchai Hall. They secured the second position.

Việt Nam and South Korea will be in the second qualification's Group E along with the hosts Thailand and Australia which were Group A's first and second teams, respectively.

Group F gathers Japan and India which were top two teams of Group B and China and Kazakhstan which ranked first and second in Group D.

Australia will be next target of Việt Nam at the Asian championship.

As per regulation, a 3-2 win result of the match between Việt Nam and South Korea in the first qualifier will be upheld in the second one. Therefore, Việt Nam need to overcome Australia on September 3 to secure a berth in the semi-finals, ignoring the match against Thailand one day later.

Despite an ASEAN country, Thailand are one of the strongest teams in the world of volleyball. They are world No 15 and Asian No 3, which places them in a much higher level compared to many teams on the continent.

Việt Nam have played Thailand multiple times and won zero. In their latest meet at the 32nd SEA Games, Việt Nam lost to them in the final match.

Australia, world No 52, however are thought not a difficult team to Việt Nam, world No 44.

At the International VTV Cup last week, Việt Nam beat them 3-0 in the group round. VNS