China claimed their first victory of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League defeating Thailand 3-2 in a hard-fought Asian showdown in Nanjing.
After opening the tournament with a straight-sets loss to Czechia, the hosts bounced back with a 25-14, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 15-7 victory in front of their home fans.
Outside hitter Zhuang Yushan led China with a match-high 21 points. Thailand pushed the hosts to the limit, with veteran middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang scoring 16 points and Sasipapron Janthawisut adding 14. Despite the defeat, the Thai side delivered another competitive performance and remains optimistic heading into its next matches.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands swept Türkiye 3-0 in Brasília, winning 25-23, 25-17, 25-18 in 80 minutes.
Results
- China def. Thailand 3-2 (25-14, 24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 15-7)
- Netherlands def. Türkiye 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-18)
Standings provided by Sofascore