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August 8, 2012

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All over for Chinese spikers

JAPAN took the honors of the day after beating Asian rival China 3-2 in the semifinals of the women's volleyball at the London Olympics yesterday.

China, champion in 2004 Athens Games and bronze medal winner in Beijing, lost the match 28-26, 23-25, 25-23, 23-25 and 18-16.

Japan will face the winner of the match between Russia and defending champion Brazil who were playing in the other semifinal.

The two sides started strongly to tie 13-all as China raced ahead 19-15 with a 6-2 run. But, Japan, led by Kimura, pulled level at 21-21 and then at 25-25. China saved a set point before losing the set 26-28.

China raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set before Japan pulled back to level 6-6 and tie 14-all. Middle blocker Xu Yunli joined Wang Yimei to take a narrow lead 22-18. After Japan fought back 22-23 with a 4-1 run, the Chinese left no chance to their rivals, with a Wang's back-front kill and a spike from Xu giving them the set 25-23.

The third set saw wing spiker Yuiko Ebata add points for Japan to lead 6-4 but China fought back to tie 6-6 and 12-all. China's wing spiker Hui Ruoqi, also the leading scorer of the team so far in the tournament, made four kills to give China a 15-12 lead. Japan staged an impressive 5-2 run to equal 17-all and then tie along to 21-21. Ebata scored four kills to help Japan take the set point 24-22. China's Hui saved one set point, but Kimura smashed China's attempt to comeback with an unanswered spike. Japan won the thrilling set 25-23.



 

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