China’s Wu Mengjie (first right) spikes the ball during the AVC Cup for Women final between China and Japan in Pasig, the Philippines on August 29, 2022. Photo: VCG

Japan won the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup for Women for the first time after defeating China 3-1 in the final in Pasig City, the Philippines on Monday. 

In the competition for third place, Thailand beat Vietnam 3-0.

Both the Chinese and Japanese teams maintained a 100 percent victory record before the final, the Beijing Daily reported.

The 2022 Asian Women’s Volleyball Cup is the seventh edition of the Asian Cup. 

China has got to the final seven times and won a total of five golds and two silvers – the best record in Asia – in the history of 14 years of the championships, the Beijing Daily said.

The average age of the members of the Chinese women’s volleyball team is 20 years old and their average height is 1.84 meters, whereas the average age of the Japanese team is 24 years old and the average height is 1.74 meters, the media said.

Since the start of the 2022 AVC Cup for Women, the young players of the Chinese women’s volleyball team have played hard and deserved to reach the final, it said.

Although China did not win the championship, many Chinese fans showed their support and encouragement for the Chinese team on China’s Twitter-like Sina Weibo.

“The girls have brought out their best during the AVC Cup. I could see them grow during the competition. I am so proud of them,” one comment said at comment section. “Congratulations to them!”

“They are full of passion,” said another, adding that “they have shown the appearance of youth, and ignited the fire of hope for the future of the Chinese women’s volleyball team.”