HONG KONG ON CUSP OF HISTORIC TRIUMPH
Stunning come-from-behind win over India side keeps hopes alive of an unprecedented title in AVC Women’s Challenge Cup battle in Thailand
Hong Kong stunned India with a magnificent come-from-behind 3-2 win in Thailand yesterday to keep their hopes of an unprecedented AVC Women’s Challenge Cup title alive.
India won the first two sets 25-12, 25-18 but the Hong Kong side shrugged off their rust and regrouped to hit back to take the remaining three sets 25-13, 25-19, 15-6.
Towering Yeung Sau-mei, captain Chim Wing-lam and Pang Wing-lam were instrumental in the reset, with some powerful attacks and blocks handing them the ascendancy.
“The first two sets were really challenging,” Chim told the Post after the match.
“India had a strong outside attack and were good in defence. But we changed our position, focused on blocking India’s outside hitter and we started to control the game. Our serve in the third set was quite strong.”
Holding a 1-0 advantage after the opening round, India came into the second set with aggression and consistency to set a solid 21-15 lead.
India captain Nirmal Kaur Saini and outside hitter Anusree Kambrath Poyili took turns to penetrate the Hong Kong defence with some exceptional attacking moves.
India moved ahead 23-17, allowing Hong Kong head coach Kwok Kin-chuen to ask for a timeout to improve their game.
The move proved to be a good one, and allowed the Hong Kong women to strike back with force. Leading by a wide margin of 23-12, Hong Kong allowed the India team just one more point to wrap up the one-sided set 25-13.
In the decider, India failed to make their mark, with Hong Kong holding firm to widen their lead with crucial points.
“It’s been three years since we last competed outside Hong Kong, we have a new fitness coach and have spent a lot of time working on receiving,” Chim said.
“We hope we can keep playing our style of game when we face Uzbekistan.”
Hong Kong’s win over India continued a solid run at the Nakhon Pathom sports centre.
On Sunday the team handed Malaysia a straight sets thumping and faced no issue in seeing off Singapore in a one-sided affair to position themselves at the top of the ladder.
Chim said it was an “unforgettable” performance that represented a new start for women’s volleyball in Hong Kong.
“It’s a new start for the Hong Kong team,” she said. “We are a youthful side but our attitude is mature. We deal with pressure in a much better way. Attitude is just as important.
Pang Wing-lam scored a match-high 22 points from 19 attacks and three aces for Hong Kong, while Yeung added 21 points.
“I am so happy that we could play our style today, though the first two sets were a bit disarrayed, we did it well in the following sets,” said Pang, who was named player of the match.
Heading into the tournament coach Kwok said his team were desperate for competition and regional experience. Despite the win, he said there was more work to be done.
“Actually, we prepared well for this match. However, I admit that it was a very difficult match against India,” Kwok said.
“My players did not play well in the first two sets, but they improved and came back for the win in the next three sets,” he added.
Hong Kong’s clash with Uzbekistan today will be their final match of the single roundrobin tournament.
We are a youthful side but our attitude is mature. We deal with pressure
CHIM WING-LAM, HONG KONG CAPTAIN