Thailand and China make it to the elimination rounds in Tianjin

The list of national teams qualified for the quarterfinals of the 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Asian Championship grew from one ot three after the conclusion of the second round of pool play in Tianjin on Monday.

Defending champions Thailand and hosts China earned their second victories in the tournament and joined Japan, which had qualified on Sunday, as the national teams confirmed to compete in the elimination rounds of the event that will award a spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the three berths at the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup.

• Watch the AVC Women's Volleyball Asian Championship on VBTV

With the three pool winners, the three pool runners-up, and the two best third-placed teams progressing to the elimination rounds, five spots continue up for grabs, with the definition happening in the next two days as pool play concludes.​

Defending champions Thailand are no longer in that race after they swept Southeast Asian rivals Indonesia 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-15) in Pool B. With two wins, six points and no sets lost, the Thais are almost guaranteed to finish pool play as one of the top two teams, but even if that doesn't happen, they would still qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Kazakhstan (one win, three points), Indonesia (one win, three points) and Australia (no wins, no points) are the other teams in the pool.

Thailand's strong performance in their second match in Tianjin was led by outside hitter Sasipapron Janthawisut, who contributed 16 points with 15 kills and one block. Star opposite Pimpichaya Kokram added 12 points (11 kills, one ace), while middle blocker Chelsa Nurtomo scored nine (eight kills, one block) for Indonesia.

"I thought we showed some really good things today," veteran middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang said. "It's never easy to play against Indonesia, but our blocking and our defense worked very well."

China continue unstoppable in Pool A

China also won't have to wait any longer to celebrate their progress thanks to their 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-14) victory over Iran. With the result, they sit at the top of the Pool A standings with two wins, six points and no sets lost, and are guaranteed to finish at least in second place. Chinese Taipei (one win, three points), Iran (one win, three points) and Iraq (no wins, no points) are the other teams in the pool.

Outside hitter Zhuang Yushan again led the Chinese success, registering 18 points (15 kills, three blocks) against the Iranians. Captain and opposite Gong Xiangyu and middle blocker Chen Houyu scored eight each, while outside hitter Fatemeh Khalili was Iran's leading scorer with nine (eight kills, one block).

In Pool C, Vietnam downed Hong Kong 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-11) and earned their first victory in the tournament, continuing in the race for the quarterfinal spots. They are now second in the pool with three points, appearing behind Japan (two wins, six points), but ahead of Korea (one win, three points) and Hong Kong (no wins, no points).

Outside hitter Pham Huong scored 15 points (12 kills, two blocks, one ace) for Vietnam, three more than star opposite and captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy. Outside hitter Wing Lam Chim was the only Hong Kong player to get to double digits in scoring, with ten points (seven kills, two blocks, one ace).

AVC Women's Volleyball Asian Championship: schedule and results

The third and last round of pool matches in Tianjin begins on Tuesday. The day's schedule has Thailand facing Kazakhstan at 10:00 local time (2:00 UTC) in Pool B, Iran playing Iraq at 14:00 (6:00 UTC) in Pool A and Japan meeting Vietnam at 18:30 (10:30 UTC) in Pool C.

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