In-form Thailand got off to a convincing start after thrashing Sri Lanka in a comfortable straight-set encounter 25-10 25-15 25-23 at the SMM 11th Asian Boys’ U19 Volleyball Championship at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium.
Thailand, who did not send their team to the previous edition in Sri Lanka three years ago, fielded a strong line-up led by powerful Pipat Chansuksri and Chaiwat Thungkham. Thailand had no trouble closing out an easy first set 25-10, thanks to their excellent teamwork and solid defence.
The second set was still dominated by Thailand despite a challenge from the Sri Lankans powered by Mahela Bandara Jayalath. The Thai boys showed their rivals a thing or two with their exceptional tactics and form to win the set 25-15.
Sri Lanka U19 in Asian Boys’ Volleyball Championship
Twelve teams will strut their stuff in the “SMM” 11th Asian Boys’ U19 Yangon Aerodrome Volleybal…
In the third set, Thailand gained the upper hand to take an initial 8-5 lead, but the Sri Lankans did not want to surrender easily, hitting back gallantly to catch the tough opponents at 10-10 and surge ahead 12-10.
To improve their tactics, the Thai side replaced setter Danupat Jantawong with Kajonsak Maokhuntod. Their decision worked out pretty well as Thailand started to turn the heat on Sri Lanka, closing the margin at 15-15 and went on their aggression to advance 23-21.
Their confidence boosted, the Sri Lankans started to produce the goods. They caught the Thais at 23-23. Nonetheless, Thailand held their nerves and stormed back to win the remaining two points for the eventual 25-23 win in the set and match.
Khomsan Phoonsang contributed 12 points for Thailand including 7 kills and 3 stuff blocks. Chaiwat Thungkham added 8 points through his attacks and Kajonsak Maokhuntod handed the team 4 block points. Mahela Bandara Jayalath led Sri Lanka with 15 points including 13 ace spikes.
“We performed well in the first two sets. Everything went smoothly as expected. Our defence, attack and blocks lived up to all expectations. We just lost our concentration in the middle of the third set, coming up with unforced mistakes. We just regained our form at the near end of the set to win the match. I myself set the team’s target of making it to the top four in the championship. If we can maintain our form to beat Japan coming Thursday, I think our chance of advancing to the top four is possible,” Thailand’s Head Coach Somboon Nakpung commented.
“We have been training quite well for two months, especially on attacks. Only their concentration and willingness to win will be the two factors to decide their fate in this championship. Our strong point is the combination attacks,” he added.
Young Myanmar demolishes Hong Kong
Myanmar delighted home fans with a convincing straight-set 25-15 25-17 25-15 victory over Hong Kong in the curtain-raisers of the SMM 11th Asian Boys’ U19 Volleyball Championship.
Mr.Htun Myint Naing, President of the Myanmar Volleyball Federation, presided over the opening ceremony ahead of the competition which attracted 11 teams including title-holders and consecutive 6-time champions Iran to vie for top honour and 4 slots to compete in this year’s FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship in Bahrain.
Myanmar, whose age average is 14.4 years, was led by powerful attacker Aung Zaw Htet and Ya Htike Wai, who stands 192cm tall, the team’s tallest player. Smaller in size, Hong Kong, whose height average is 177cm against the hosts’ 180cm, tried hard to recover from the first-set down 15-25, but still found Myanmar an impossible nut to crack to go down 17-25 in the second set.
With their backs against the wall, Hong Kong poured everything they had into the third set, hoping for a comeback, but things started to turn sour for the visitors. With the nerve-wracking noises of drum-beating home supporters, Myanmar went on their good show. Taking a narrow 8-7 lead, Myanmar stretched it to 20-12 and never looked back since then to win the set 25-15 and the one-sided match.
Aung Zaw Htet top scored with 18 points for Myanmar including 15 kills and one ace serve, while Le Yin Chun led Hong Kong with 8 points.
“It was not a good match although we won it. Hong Kong are very young and still inexperienced. We have been training for two months, but took it seriously just one week because all of my players are students and had to take their exams before starting an intensive training for the tournament,” Myanmar’s head coach Kyaw Swar Win commented after the match.
“We next take on Australia. We don’t have much information about them, but we have to try our best. We don’t want to set any target in this championship, but just want to give our best one at a time,” he said.
Merciless Korea crush Bangladesh
Korea proved too much for underdogs Bangladesh to brush aside the smaller rivals in a completely one-sided encounter 25-12 25-13 25-11 in 59 minutes to claim their first win at the SMM 11th Asian Boys’ U19 Volleyball Championship.
Im Donghyeok became a scoring machine for Korea as he scored a match-high 19 points consisting of 17 kills and 2 ace serves. Jeong Taejun added four points through his effective blocks. Islam Mohammad led Bangladesh with 7 points.
China defeat Chinese Taipei in a thriller
China came from a set down to defeat Chinese Taipei 3-1 in the 4th and final match of Day 1 of the SMM 11th Asian Boys’ U19 Volleyball Championship.
Taipei won the first set 28-30 which went down to the wire but China recovered to win the next three sets 25-23, 25-19 & 25-18.
