Taiwan's giant-killing run ended yesterday when they crashed in a four-set defeat to European silver medalists Turkey in the women's world volleyball championships.
The Taiwanese women, who shocked Asian rivals Japan, South Korea and European champions Poland in the first stage, suffered their first loss 25-17, 25-16, 21-25, 25-17 in the eight-team Pool E tournament in Nagoya.
"The Turkish team played a wonderful match. We couldn't show our best against them today. Tactically we made too many mistakes. That's why we lost," Taiwan captain Chen Shu-li (
PHOTO: AFP
"Our spikes didn't work and the blocks weren't good enough. It made it tough for the defensive players at the back," she said.
Taiwan coach Lin Kuang-hung (
"Turkey played a wonderful match," Lin said.
PHOTO: AFP
"We made every effort to win, but we have to think about the reasons why we lost. Turkey's team was tall, but in Pool A we defeated Poland, who are also tall," he said.
Neslihan said: "This match was very important, because it was the first match of the second round. We wanted to win it very much, and we had no doubt that we would. But Taiwan were very good and we are happy that we won."
Turkish coach Resat Yaziciogullari said: "We have had a good start to the second round. With this win, other teams in this pool now have a chance."
Serbia and Montenegro, Russia and Brazil, who carried over three wins from the first stage, all remained unbeaten scoring their sixth straight wins for 4-0 records in the second stage.
The Serbians fought off South Korea 25-23, 25-19, 25-22, while Brazil outgunned Azerbaijan 25-19, 25-21, 25-23 in Pool E.
"I'm not pleased with the way my team played for most of the match, but I'm pleased with the result. Maybe we were still half asleep. But definitely I'm not happy about the way my players played in defence," Serbian coach Zoran Terzic said.
The two-time Olympic silver medalists Russia whipped Puerto Rico 25-16, 25-10, 25-20 in Pool F in Osaka yesterday.
"We still have problems with our setter," Russian coach Giovanni Caprara said. "We have an inexperienced setter, Marina Akulova, who is quick, and the other setter, Marina Sheshenina, is experienced but slower."
"But we have strong attacks to counter this problem. I hope we can continue to play this way. All our opponents are strong and we have to take it day by day. We cannot afford to lose any matches, because it may affect our semi-final chances," he added.
In other matches, defending champions Italy powered past Poland 25-19, 25-22, 25-13 in Nagoya, while the Netherlands squeezed through to a 23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 16-14 win over Germany in Osaka.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The horn sounded on Wednesday night to signal a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, as the Florida Panthers celebrated merely by hopping over the boards and several heading over to congratulate goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. It was a subdued celebration seemingly more befitting a regular-season win for the reigning Cup champs. “I remember a few years ago, it felt like such an accomplishment from where we were at one point,” forward Matthew Tkachuk said, adding: “It’s all business and we’ve got a bigger goal in mind.” The Panthers closed out the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, with a 5-3 victory in
The Edmonton Oilers on Thursday defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 to book their place in the Stanley Cup Finals, setting up a repeat of last year’s NHL showpiece against reigning champions the Florida Panthers. The Oilers, bidding to become the first Canadian team to win the NHL’s championship series since the 1993 Montreal Canadiens, head to Florida for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series set for Wednesday. Florida, who are to play in the NHL showpiece for the third straight season, won last year’s title 4-3 to extend Canada’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought. Connor McDavid led Edmonton back to the championship series on
RSS