NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- China beat Vietnam 3-0 in the women's volleyball quarterfinals at the 2026 Asian Games on Sunday, setting up a semifinal showdown with Thailand.
After an even start to the opening set, China used its powerful attack to reel off seven straight points, forcing Vietnam to call two timeouts. China went on to take the set 25-16.
China's attacking combinations clicked in the second set as it won by the same score before maintaining its momentum in the third. Vietnam attempted to respond with quick attacks and drop shots, but China closed out the match 25-11.
China made its height advantage count, recording 50 points from attacks and 10 from blocks, compared with Vietnam's 29 attacking points and three blocks. Outside hitter Zhuang Yushan scored a match-high 17 points, while four Chinese players finished in double figures.
China head coach Zhao Yong said he was satisfied with his team's performance, noting that his players had the upper hand in crucial points and when opportunities arose.
"Our attacking game flowed pretty well in today's match," China captain Gong Xiangyu said.
Looking ahead to the semifinal against Thailand, Gong said China would need a strong collective performance.
"We need to pull together as one, play our best, go all out and challenge our opponents," she said.
China advanced to the quarterfinals as the top team in its group after beating the Philippines and Kazakhstan by identical 3-0 scores.
Thailand, the newly crowned Asian champion, also advanced in straight sets, beating Indonesia 25-10, 29-27, 25-16. Opposite hitter Pimpichaya Kokram scored a match-high 19 points.
The semifinal will be a rematch of last month's Asian Women's Volleyball Championship final in Tianjin, where Thailand edged China 3-2 to secure its first Olympic berth in women's volleyball.
In the other quarterfinals, South Korea swept Kazakhstan 3-0, while Japan beat Chinese Taipei by the same score.
Despite Kazakhstan's defeat, Kristina Belova said she was proud of her team's performance.
"I think it was a good match. And that's where the pride comes from," Belova said. "We fought right to the very end. Even when we were losing, we tried to get back into the game and stayed united as a team." ■
