VNL 2025: China Defeats Japan 3-1 to Reclaim Asian #1 Spot

On June 21, in the second match of the day during Week 2 Pool 5 in Hong Kong, China triumphed over Japan 3-1 (25-15, 25-12, 18-25, 25-22). With the victory, China gained 7.96 world ranking points from Japan, reclaiming the #1 spot among Asian teams. Wu Mengjie led all scorers with an impressive 24 points, steering the Chinese side to victory.

Post-Match Reactions from China

Chinese team captain Gong Xiangyu shared her thoughts after the match. She emphasized the importance of the win and praised her team for withstanding the pressure throughout the game. Gong highlighted the team’s balanced performance across offense and defense.

Commenting on their dip in the third set, Gong acknowledged that Japan made strategic adjustments, particularly with their serves, which challenged China and introduced a faster, more varied playing style. However, she noted that her team regained control in the fourth set, especially in the middle of the frame, despite Japan’s tenacious effort. Gong expressed her gratitude to the home fans for their support, saying it was heartening to see so many spectators cheering for them.

Post-Match Reactions from Japan

Our journalist also interviewed Japanese captain Mayu Ishikawa for her perspective on the match. Ishikawa described the game as very challenging and acknowledged areas where she could improve. She expressed her determination to reflect on her performance and strive for better results moving forward.

Video Interviews of the Matchday

(Featured image source: Volleyball World)

(Reported by Boris CHUNG Bok Man)