The 2025 VNL Hong Kong station was reversed by the Japanese women's volleyball team, and the Thai coach praised the opponent as a world-class team

The second game of the 2025 World Women's Volleyball League (VNL) Hong Kong Station that ended on the evening of the 18th, by the last runner-up Japan vs. Thailand, it seems that Thailand, the inferior team, played a surprise, and defeated Japan in the first two games, but unfortunately was reversed by the opponent 2:3 in the end.

The picture shows the game between the two teams, and the blue is the Japanese women's volleyball team

Thailand, ranked 14th in the world, proved with its performance that it was not a "running accompaniment", and played a thrilling battle with Japan. Thai coach Gatipong is the husband of Feng Kun, the former captain of the Chinese women's volleyball team, and Feng Kun has also joined the coaching team earlier.

The Japanese team was led by new captain Masuke Ishikawa, but she was almost "caught" by Thailand in the first two games, and successfully blocked the net many times, relying on the 33-year-old veteran Haruyo Shimamura and rising star Yukiko Wada, who returned to the national team, to share the scoring responsibility. Shimamura, who is good at "back flying", has scored 4 times with this trick in the first game alone, and Yukiko Wada has amazing hitting power, and every time she starts or smashes the ball, the fans at the scene can't help but make a whoosh.

However, the Thai team's tacit understanding, fighting spirit, and high morale were high, and the fast attack was frequently successful, coupled with the holes in Japan's defense, they made 8 mistakes and were beaten by Thailand 25:18. In the second game, the two sides scored plum blossoms, Thailand still had a slight advantage, Japan chased it to 20:20, and the two sides fought at the end of the game, and Thailand, which played better, won 25:23.

In the second match of the first day of the World Women's Volleyball League Hong Kong Station, Japan defeated Thailand 3:2

Japan, which was two games behind, could not afford to lose in the third game, adjusted tactics, Ishikawa Mayu no longer forcibly smashed the ball to change to the back row smash, false attack, and line change attack, and found the right space to smash vigorously, and gradually played a sense of hand, plus Yukiko Wada and another rising star Shuno Sato performed eye-catchingly, and at the same time the whole team strengthened defense, and finally won a game 25:20.

The Japanese women's volleyball team also played more and more smoothly under Ishikawa Shinyu's bravery, and continued to gain an advantage in the fourth game, leading the first 5:2 in the opening game, opening to 16:8 in the middle section, and tying the game 2:2 with 25:15.

The decisive fifth game was contested at the beginning of the game, and Japan gradually took the advantage in the middle of the game, and won another game with 15:10, and won 3 games in a row in the disadvantage of 2 games.

After the game, Thailand head coach Gatipong praised the Japanese women's volleyball team as a world-class team, "First of all, congratulations to the Japanese team, we have benefited a lot from them, their skills and tactics are excellent, and the main players have played very successfully", for Thailand to win the first two games, he said with a smile: "I originally wanted to surprise everyone", as for the 3rd to 5th consecutive defeats, resulting in the loss of the team's advantage, he said: "Our team has a little problem, several main players are injured, there are physical problems", but praised the fighting spirit of the team, fight with all their might, and the reserve players are also very good, Hopefully, after that, I can make adjustments and improve all the way and play better, "I want to thank my group of players. ”

Thai head coach Gatipong praised the Japanese women's volleyball team as a world-class team after the game

He also has a positive opinion about the new venue of the Kai Tak Sports Centre, "The new stadium is very good, it is a standard world-class course, and we are very happy to be able to play here. The Thai team has performed well in Hong Kong, and he threatened: "We love Hong Kong and thank the fans for coming here to cheer us on." ”