bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Paul McNamara

Chinese volleyball gained some much-needed feelgood factor as head coach Cai Bin’s team swept away Poland on a tide of energy and exuberance at Hong Kong Coliseum on Sunday.
China won 3-0 on a night that had none of the drama of Saturday’s fightback to beat Turkey, but produced a more accomplished display, dominating the team ranked world No 4.
Cai’s side never looked back after going in front for the first time at 17-16 in the opening set. They closed it out 25-23, before dominating the next two 25-15, 25-19.
A fourth win from four matches in Hong Kong came only days after a poor showing in the Macau Volleyball Nations League (VNL) leg raised questions over Cai’s suitability for the job.

The VNL finals, staged in Thailand, begin on Thursday. China will play their quarter-final on Friday.
Brazil’s imperious players, meanwhile, targeted a golden summer after routing Turkey 3-0 to take a grip on the world No 1 position and complete their own perfect week.
The South Americans claimed top spot from Turkey following the latter’s dramatic collapse against China on Saturday. The Turks appeared haunted by that loss during a limp performance barely 24 hours later, when they had no answer to Brazil’s speed, power and agility.
Brazil remain without a VNL title, despite reaching the final three times, but they go to this week’s finals competition in optimistic mood after winning all 12 preliminary matches. They meet Thailand in the last eight.
Ana Cristina Souza, Brazil’s outside hitter, said breaking the VNL duck was a “big goal”. Souza also played as a 17-year-old in Brazil’s Tokyo Olympics final defeat by USA, and is determined to go one better in Paris this year.
“We are focused on the gold medal this time,” Souza said. “We are really confident, and can see the progress we are making. We still have a lot to improve, because the teams are getting stronger every year.
“Everyone put the best of themselves on the court today. It was an amazing performance.
“It means a lot to be world No 1, it was hard work to get back there. Now, our focus is on the [VNL] finals, and the Olympics, which is our biggest goal.”
Brazil lost the first set they played in Hong Kong, before recovering to beat Poland 3-1 on Wednesday. They comfortably saw off Germany and Bulgaria, but reserved their best for the 25-14, 25-14, 25-19 humbling of defending VNL champions Turkey, whose week went south after they opened with two victories.
From world No 1 on Saturday evening, the Turks were third by Sunday teatime, slipping behind Italy, who beat Serbia in Japan earlier in the day.

Brazil middle blocker Ana Carolina da Silva said: “We have to keep our feet on the floor. We are happy to win the 12 games, but we want more in this tournament.
“We don’t see [chasing titles] as pressure … it is part of our job. We are used to it. We like playing at this level, and want to be the No 1 team.”
Thailand lost the day’s opening match 3-0 to Germany for a third successive straight-sets defeat.


SV.League: Can Japan competition’s new look give volleyball a profile to rival football?

Volleyball Nations League 2024 sets records for attendance, viewership and engagement

Nothing brings Hongkongers and mainland Chinese closer together than sports

Paris Olympics: China volleyball fans lament facing US again – ‘what kind of fate is this?’

Volleyball

Volleyball Nations League: China bounce back from Macau lows to hit heights in Hong Kong

China’s wins over Turkey and Poland completed an unbeaten week in Hong Kong. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

China head coach Cai Bin relieved the pressure on his shoulders with four straight wins. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Brazil’s victory over Turkey completed a perfect winning record from 12 preliminary games. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Volleyball Nations League: jubilant China fight back to stun Turkey – ‘we stayed together’

China turned their match against Turkey on its head with an astonishing comeback. Photo: Yik Yeung-man.

China are receiving raucous support at Hong Kong Coliseum. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Li Yingying spikes the ball as China battle back to beat Turkey at Hong Kong Coliseum. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Paris Olympics: Chinese volleyball fans torn as women’s side handed place at Games

China have qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris but it was only thank to results elsewhere. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Chinese volleyball fans are split on earning Olympic qualification thanks to results elsewhere. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong: China start with win to keep Olympic hopes alive

Wang Yuanyuan blocks, watched by teammate Gong Xiangyu, during China’s win over Bulgaria. Photo: Elson Li

Germany, in white, face Dominican Republic in Tuesday’s first match of the league’s Hong Kong leg. Photo: Elson Li

Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong: every match counts for China as Olympics spot beckons

Team captains for the VNL in Hong Kong (from  left): Bulgaria’s Miroslava Paskova, China’s Yuan Xinyue, Poland’s Joanna Wolosz; Thailand’s Thatdao Nuekjang; Brazil’s Gabriela Guimaraes and Turkey’s Eda Erdem. Photo: May Tse

China coach Cai Bin says the losses in Macau “are on me”. Photo: May Tse

Star hitter Zhu Ting will receive more game time in Hong Kong, says coach Cai. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Other Sport

Paris Olympics 2024

China

Cai Bin’s team dominate Poland, while new world No 1s Brazil target Olympics after ‘amazing performance’ blows away Turkey


Cai Bin’s team dominate Poland, while new world No 1s Brazil target Olympics after ‘amazing performance’ blows away Turkey.


Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Serbia