Japan – China
The final showdown on Saturday at the Shuangliu Sports Center highlighted a classic battle of pure power against speed and precision.
Japan immediately rushed to their main offensive weapon, Sarina Koga, who ferociously fired away from her favoured vantage point at the left. As the Chinese blockers were nowhere to be found, Koga devised a way to nail nearly every attack from this area. Yurika Kono safeguarded the middle while Misaki Shirai operated on the right wing to comprise a comprehensive frontline for the Japanese squad. Once in the backline, Koga varied the speed of her attacks a throw off the Chinese defenders’ reaction rate.
China’s Yuan Xinyue started to impose her 199cm presence at the middle. She convincingly deflected the opponents’ attacks and scored with pounding kills.
Shino Nakata retaliated and posted equally effective yet subtler attacks from the left side to close out the opener for Japan at 25-19.
China needed to regroup in the second set and Hu Mingyuan responded to the call. She launched her attacks effectively from the right side. Ju Wanrong likewise helped in keeping the Chinese side at pace at both wings.
However, Koga continued to dazzle as Japan’s offensive gem. Her attacks from the wing and the backline proved to be unstoppable as the Chinese defenders could not even stage the first step towards a block.
China’s coach Dong Ruijun turned to his bench players and fielded in Guan Jiu to fortify his frontline. The substitution paid off as China was able to save a set point with a block, but eventually squandered the second set with an error.
China was determined to extend the match as Hu performed consistently from the service line. Yuan had the same idea and dutifully toiled as a fixture by the net. She enjoyed her height advantage to calculate her attacks down the middle. Wang Yunlu likewise exploded with her game in the left side
While Japan’s Shino Nakata did well with her serves, China gained the third set with their blocks, scoring the last point with a deflection of Koga’s attack upfront.
A tight race ensued in the fourth set with China’s Wang and Yuan continuing their rhythm, and Japan’s Koga and Shirai responding accordingly. A timely substitution for China paid off with Du Qingqing’s service ace.
The Chinese side persisted with their offense, but their defensive stance could not contain the Koga scoring machine. She kept her form from the backrow, even at varied speeds and angles in order to outsmart the opponents.
China continued to misfire their attacks and finally lost the opportunity to gain another title in the tournament’s history.
Sarina Koga turned in a superb all-around performance with her kills, blocks, and effective reception on the floor. She charted a total of 33 points. Shino Nakata scored another 13 markers for the new champions. Setter Airi Tahara proved to be the clincher in this match, orchestrating a well-oiled offensive plan which activated the team’s strongest hitters at the right place and at the right time.
Japan now maintains a four-title streak in the tournament, annexing their achievement in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Their first championship crown was captured in the first edition of the tournament in 1997.
Japan’s 2012 title brings them to the FIVB Girls Youth World Championship in 2013. China will likewise qualify as the Asian vice-champion.
Read more news from Asian Youth Girls’ Championship here
