Thailand prove too slick for Mongolia

NAKHON RATCHASIMA : Thailand claimed an easy 25-12, 25-9, 25-5 win over Mongolia in the final match of Pool A at the 17th Asian Women's Volleyball Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday.



Encouraged by about 5000 fans at the Chatchai Hall, world No.16 Thailand comfortably beat the debutants. The victory earned Thailand a place in the quarter-finals as the pool runner-up with six points, three behind winners Kazakhstan, who yesterday beat Australia 3-1.



In the quarter-finals, eight teams are divided into two pools of four. Thailand are grouped with Kazakhstan, Japan, and Vietnam in Pool E while defending champion China will play South Korea, Taiwan and Iran in Pool F. They will play in a round-robin format but the teams that were in the same group in the first round do not need to play each other again.



The winner of Pool E will face the team that finished last in Pool F. While the team that finished second in Pool E will face the team that finished third in Pool F, the team coming third in Pool E will be up against the second-placed team in Pool F.



Targeting a top-four finish at the biennial tournament, Thailand today face Japan. Even though it will be a tough match, coach Kiattipong Radchatakriengkrai believes his team stands a chance of upsetting the world No.3 and the last year's Olympic Games bronze medallists.



"We lost in all the two meetings against Japan this year. However, I still believe in my players," he said. "We know each other quite well. Their weakness is how to block the ball. The crowd will

play a part in the game. We will be more motivated."



The crowd will play a part in the game. We will be more motivated." Meanwhile, Pleumjit Thinkaow said that it would be a very competitive game. "Anyone who is better in avoid making mistakes would win the match," she said. "To play Japan, we need to focus on every details. Just a small mistake can cost us the chance."



Japan won the Asian title three times but they are seeking for the first title since 2007. In Pool D yesterday, South Korea and Taiwan qualified for the next round as the pool's winner and runner-up respectively. The world No.10 took all the nine points following their final win over Taiwan who also got six points.



South Korea's team manager Joo Dong-Wook said his team, which features both young and experienced players, have improved as the tournament went on. Their target was to reach the final.

South Korea are likely to meet Thailand in the knock-out stage and Joo said that it is hard to predict if his team could beat the hosts. "It will be competitive. It depends on the matchday how good we can perform," he said.



Two years ago, South Korea beat Thailand in the third-place play-off in Taiwan. Today, South Korea will face Iran in Pool F at 11am and China take on Taiwan at 4.30pm at Chatchai Hall. Kazakhstan

meet Vietnam at 7pm in Pool E.

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