Trần Thị Thanh Thuý of Việt Nam (No 3) hits a ball during Việt Nam vs Chinese Taipei match at the Asian Women’s U23 Volleyball Championship on Wednesday in Hà Nội. —Photo courtesy of VVF

HÀ NỘI — Trần Thị Thanh Thuý shone to lift Việt Nam from behind to defeat Chinese Taipei 3-1 over in the top eight playoff match in Pool E at the Asian Women’s U23 Volleyball Championship on Wednesday in Hà Nội.

Captain Thuý secured 21 points, three blocks and two aces for the hosts. Tsai Yu-Chun led Chinese Taipei with 18 points.

Due to the importance of the clash, coach Nguyễn Tuấn Kiệt selected all of his best players including Thúy and Dương Thị Hên, who were sidelined or played as substitutes previously.

The duo created difficulties for their rivals from the beginning, lifting Việt Nam ahead with a 3-0 lead in the first set.

Chinese Taipei fought back through Chen Tzu-Ya and Tsai Yu-Chun with great support from setter Liu Yu-Chun to win the first set 25-22.

The Vietnamese improved in the next period, with much better digging and setting.

Thúy, Hên and Nguyễn Thị Trinh helped Việt Nam turn things around to lead 14-10.

Chinese Taipei used all of their timeouts to slow the hosts’ momentum and narrowed the gap to a point at one stage, but Việt Nam continued their exceptional form to win 25-22.

The third and the fourth sets belonged to the hosts, who won with thundering attacks 25-21 and 25-22.

“The first set loss was because some of my players felt a bit stressed. But they calmed down and fought back. I think they have not performed all of their best this match,” said Kiệt.

“We will next play China who are much stronger us. However, I believe that my players will try their best. It is great that many supporters came to support us and it will encourage us a lot. I told my girls they should believe in themselves and they can do what they want.”

Việt Nam beat Chinese Taipei to take bronze in the same event in Thailand two years ago.

In the other match in Group E on Wednesday, China trounced New Zealand 25-15, 25-22, 25-10.

Meanwhile in Group F, North Korea won 25-16, 25-17, 17-25, 25-10 over Hong Kong, and Thailand powered past Kazakhstan 25-17, 25-20, 25-22.

In the competition for ninth-13th places, India beat Maldives 25-10, 25-8, 25-5 and Australia bested Sri Lanka 25-19, 25-11, 22-25, 25-10. — VNS