ATTACK. Kazakhstan's Kristina Anikonova (No. 18) tries to score against Singapore's Ethel Siow Yi Yin (in red jersey) during the AVC Challenge Cup for Women at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on May 22, 2024. Kazakhstan won, 25-17, 25-23, 25-21. (AVC photo)
MANILA – Kazakhstan defeated Singapore, 25-17, 25-23, 25-21, at the start of the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup for Women at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday.
Opposite hitter Kristina Belova delivered eight attacks and seven aces, while skipper Sana Anarkulova had 13 points, 12 on attacks, in the one-hour-and-12-minute match.
Kristina Anikonova and Svetlana Nikolayeva chipped in eight and seven points, respectively.
“It’s very difficult in terms of time difference because it’s 7 in the morning back home,” Anarkulova said. “It’s so early and our people are still asleep, but we’ll try to perform well.”
Rachel Lau Yue Ting, Ethel Siow Yi Yin, and Gan Yun Jie scored four points each for Singapore.
Meanwhile, Anagha Radha scored 16 points in leading India to a 25-17, 25-23, 25-21 victory over Iran in Pool A.
Anusree Kambrath Poyilil added 15 points while Shaalini Saravanan had 12 points.
Middle blocker Reyhane Karimi paced Iran with eight spikes, three blocks, and one ace, while Aytak Salamat contributed 10 attacks.
“I feel very proud and happy,” India’s team captain Kovat Shaji Jini said. “The Iran team’s very good but we focused on our service and digging and we got good results.”
“We were fourth place but now we want to win a medal in this championship,” Jini added, referring to last year's edition held in East Java where they lost to Chinese Taipei in the bronze medal match. Vietnam won the title over host Indonesia.
Other matches pitting defending champion Vietnam against Hong Kong and Australia against Chinese Taipei were scheduled late Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pilipinas Alas will battle Australia at 7 p.m. on Thursday Pool A; Indonesia will face Hong Kong at 10 a.m.; India will take on Chinese-Taipei at 1 p.m.; while Vietnam and Singapore will square off at 4 p.m. (PNA)
