Australia, China and Thailand made winning starts at the AVC Men’s Volleyball Asian Championship in Fukuoka, all recording straight-set victories on the second day of competition.
Australia defeated Bahrain in Pool A behind a strong performance from Lorenzo Pope, who finished with a match-high 19 points. Nehemiah Mote added 11 points, including five blocks, while Lincoln Alexander Williams contributed 10.
China was pushed harder by India in Pool B but still completed a three-set victory. Wang Bin and India’s Chirag Yadav shared the match-high with 16 points each, while Zhang Jingyin added 12 for China.
Thailand closed the day with a comfortable win over Qatar in Pool C. Napadet Bhinijdee led the scoring with 14 points, while Chaiwat Thungkham added 13.
Qatar’s Mubarak Musa Thiik Madut stood out with 12 points, including five blocks and two aces.
The championship also has qualification implications for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the 2027 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Cup.
Results
Australia beat Bahrain 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-21)
China beat India 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 27-25)
Thailand beat Qatar 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-14)
