Vietnam staged an epic comeback to secure a 3-2 victory against South Korea in their opening match at the 2023 Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship in Thailand on Wednesday.

South Korea, which holds the 35th position in the global rankings and is 13 spots ahead of Vietnam, came to the tournament with a formidable team comprised of nine out of 14 athletes who recently participated in the 2023 Women’s Volleyball Nations League.

This prompted Vietnamese head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet to field his best players, including Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh, Doan Thi Lam Oanh, and Nguyen Khanh Dang.

The game, held at Nakhon Ratchasima Stadium in Thailand, unfolded as expected, with South Korea claiming victory in the first two sets.

In the first set, Vietnam managed to tie the score at 22-22 but struggled to counter the opponent’s powerful shots, resulting in a 22-25 loss.

In the second set, South Korea maintained its strong serves and exhibited solid defense, leading to consistent attacks that contributed to a 25-19 victory.

In the decisive third set, trailing 12-16 against the rival, Vietnam relentlessly pursued each point, displaying unwavering determination, and ultimately securing a crucial triumph of 25-23.

Vietnam’s confidence received a significant boost following the win in this set, while South Korea started to show signs of declining stamina. 

When the score stood at 14-14, Vietnam went on a streak, scoring multiple consecutive points, ultimately clinching the fourth set with a score of 25-17.

As a result, the teams proceeded to the fifth and final set. 

South Korea appeared to have lost its morale, making numerous errors and struggling in defense. 

Consequently, Vietnam consistently maintained the lead before ultimately triumphing with a 15-13 coup, securing a 3-2 overall conquest over South Korea.

This win provided Vietnam with a significant opportunity to lead Group C, given that the remaining two competitors, Taiwan and Uzbekistan, are rated lower. 

Securing the top spot will enable Vietnam to advance to the second group stage as the top-seeded team, reducing the likelihood of encountering strong opponents and enhancing their chances of finishing among the top four in the end.

The 2023 Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship takes place in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand through September 6. Fourteen participating teams are competing in four groups.

The tournament’s top three teams will earn a spot in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship.

In the event’s 20 previous editions, China has claimed the highest number of titles, totaling 13, while Japan has won five and Thailand has clinched two. 

The 2021 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Vietnam’s most notable achievement was a fifth place in both 2015 and 2017.

Its next match against Uzbekistan is set for Thursday at 6:00 pm.

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