NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Trailing 19-13 in the third set of Tuesday's Asian Games women's volleyball final, China faced an unexpected challenge. Despite holding a 2-0 lead, the team was suddenly under pressure as host Japan threatened to extend the match.
For China's young squad, the situation presented another test of resilience it had developed since a painful defeat to Thailand in last month's Asian Championship final.
Just 23 days after that setback, China overcame Japan to claim its 10th Asian Games women's volleyball title, completing a remarkable turnaround for a team still finding its feet on the international stage.
Assembled in April 2025, the squad had endured its biggest disappointment when it surrendered a 2-1 lead against Thailand in the Asian Championship final, missing out on both the continental title and a direct berth at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"The defeat to Thailand at the Asian Championship hit us really hard," outside hitter Zhuang Yushan acknowledged.
Since resuming training in April this year, the players had focused on winning the Asian Championship and securing the continent's direct Olympic qualification berth. Falling short left the squad struggling to recover emotionally.
But with the Asian Games approaching, there was little time to dwell on the defeat.
"We returned to Beijing after the Asian Championship with only around two weeks to get ready for the Asian Games," captain Gong Xiangyu recalled.
"The team was in a low mood for a while. With such a short gap between competitions, we needed to address our issues quickly and rise above the hardships."
The opportunity to demonstrate their progress came in the Asian Games semifinals, where China faced a full-strength Thailand side less than a month after their previous encounter.
Once again, China took a 2-1 lead before Thailand forced a deciding set. This time, however, the Chinese players held their nerve, dominating the fifth set 15-6 to advance to the final.
The victory reflected both tactical adjustments and improved mental resilience.
"We had to rely on training to turn things around," said 18-year-old middle blocker Wang Aoqian.
During the Asian Championship final, China had struggled to contain Thailand's attacking combinations, with its blockers frequently caught out by the Thai setter.
Wang acknowledged that hesitation had undermined her performance.
"I was hesitant and overthinking my blocks at the Asian Championship. After reviewing the game, my coach urged me to trust my reads," she said.
The improvement was evident in the rematch, where China outscored Thailand 11-4 in blocking points and recorded a 17 percent blocking success rate, compared with Thailand's 8 percent.
China's serving also disrupted Thailand's reception, creating opportunities for its blockers, particularly in the deciding set.
The team made adjustments in attack, reducing its reliance on individual hitters and using drop shots and varied attacking angles to unsettle Thailand's defense.
Thailand's defensive performance had been a major factor in its Asian Championship victory, but China finished the semifinal ahead in both total digs and digging percentage.
Beyond the tactical improvements, the tournament demonstrated the team's growing ability to handle pressure.
Tuesday's final against Japan provided another example.
Holding a 2-0 lead, China appeared to be closing in on gold before Japan fought back in the third set. The hosts established a 19-13 advantage, threatening to extend the contest.
With Japan gaining momentum, 20-year-old outside hitter Dong Yuhan came off the bench and helped China regain its attacking rhythm.
"I simply went out to play aggressively without overcomplicating things," Dong said.
Supported by Gong's effective serving, Dong converted four of her eight attacking attempts into points, helping China close the gap.
"We shook off the mental burden and played fearlessly. We came in looking to challenge them, with no extra distractions," she said.
Wu Mengjie, who delivered important attacking contributions in both the semifinal and final, said the team had learned to approach difficult situations with greater composure.
"We braced ourselves for hardships. When these moments arrived, we remained composed and level-headed," she said.
Japan fielded a less-than-full-strength squad in the final, and China's victory did not necessarily represent a fundamental transformation in its technical ability. Nevertheless, the tournament provided evidence of improved preparation and growing maturity.
With an average age below 22, many of China's players have only recently begun competing at the highest international level. Over the past year, they have experienced their first Asian Championship, World Championship and Asian Games, learning to cope with both the disappointment of defeat and the pressure of competing for major titles.
For Zhuang, the ability to recover from setbacks was as important as the gold medal itself.
"China's women's volleyball spirit is about never surrendering, just as we showed in the third set versus Japan today. If you don't give up, you stand a chance," the 23-year-old said.
That determination has long been associated with China's women's volleyball team.
The country's five consecutive major international titles in the 1980s established the foundations of its success, while its Olympic triumphs in Athens in 2004 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016 reinforced that legacy.
In Athens, China recovered from two sets down to defeat Russia in the final, ending a 20-year wait for Olympic gold. 12 years later, it overcame host Brazil, the Netherlands and Serbia in the knockout rounds to reclaim the title in Rio.
For Gong, one of the experienced players guiding the current generation, Tuesday's victory carried particular significance.
Now in her 10th year with the national team, the captain collected her third Asian Games gold medal.
"I cherish my decade-long career with the national team deeply. Not everyone gets the chance to train here every single day. This is my third Asian Games, and also my third Asian Games gold medal personally. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to keep winning glory for our country."
Standing alongside Gong on the podium was 30-year-old veteran Wang Mengjie, with a new generation of Chinese players celebrating behind them.
For Zhuang, their responsibility extends beyond winning individual tournaments.
"We didn't let the loss at the Asian Championship break us. We cannot let the legacy of China's women's volleyball team be tarnished on our watch. It is our duty to uphold it," she said. ■
