Tokyo, Japan, May 21, 2016 - Thailand staged a dramatic comeback to keep their hopes of a first ever Olympics alive, while Korea have already been confirmed as the first team in Japan to qualify for the Rio Games.
The hard-fought 3-2 (19-25, 22-25, 29-27, 26-24, 15-12) win gives Thailand two points for an aggregate nine points, two points behind Japan, while Korea have now safe on 13 points.
Not for the first time this week Thai fans were kept on the edge of their seats for nearly three hours, while their team slipped and slid but, ultimately, held their nerves to post a memorable win.
Thailand needed to find something special, but Korea also had a lot on their mind. Knowing a win would lock up an Olympic ticket they was determined to hit their Asian opponents hard.
After opening up an early two point break the Koreans were never headed. Thailand were able to stay in touch until the score reached 13-11, at which stage Korea put together six consecutive points with Kim Yeon-Koung at the service line.
Thailand, once again preferring Pornpun Guedpard as their starting setter, rallied briefly to bring the score back to 17-20, but Korea had all the answers late to lock up the set 25-19.
Kim Hee-Jin was continuing her good form from the previous day with seven first set points, the same as Yeon-Koung, while Thatdao Nuekjang and Ajcharaporn Kongyot led the way for Thailand with four points each.
Yeon-Koung is a problem for any team that comes up against Korea. If you’re lucky, she might be at her best for just half the game.
The problem is, when she’s at her best it’s impossible to try and shut her down. And even though Thailand dominated most of the second set, it was Yeun-Koung who kept her team in the hunt, and ultimately helped steer her side to an unlikely 25-22 result.
Thailand had led since the start of the set, powerful and well directed spiking from Ajcharaporn helping her team to a 3-0, then 10-7, and then 15-12 lead.
Korea fought back to take the lead 16-15, but Thailand settled again to get into a set-winning position at 21-18.
But in what must have brought back memories of the game against Japan, Korea won the next four points to move ahead 22-21, and then sealing the deal to lock up a place at their 11th Olympic Games.
Thailand desperately needed a confidence boost, and it came in the third set. With setter Pornpun showing cunning and guile on the net, and Malika Kanthong refusing to be intimidated by the Korean wall, Thailand managed to keep their Olympic dream alive.
It almost wasn’t; Thailand again led nearly all of the set, but let Korea back in late. On two occasions they held set points, but gave it up both times.
Korea also held set points twice; they also blew it. Finally, at 28-27, a partial block at the net enabled Thailand to finally close out the set 29-27.
Yeon-Koung had 26 points for Korea, while Onuma Sittirak had 15 for Thailand.
Thailand supporters need a strong constitution. Their team have been giving them a dramatic, nerve-wracking ride this campaign.
The fourth set was another classic example. Thailand led nearly all of the set, let Korea come back from 24-22 to 24-24, then let another set point slip at 25-24 before finally winning 26-24, locking up a certain point that would keep them alive at least until Japan’s game against Italy on Saturday night.
Current captain Pleumjit Thinkaow and former captain Wilavan Apinyapong were the steady hands that helped guide Thailand to the set victory, aided and abetted by some timely setting from Pornpun and formidable blocking from Thatdao.
Onuma was leading the charge for Thailand with 21 points, while Yeon-Koung was leading all comers with 31 points for Korea.
The final set was incredibly tense, and error-riddled. Thailand held control early, but mistake after mistake kept letting the Koreans back into the set.
At 10-12, it looked as though Thailand may have blown their chances away, but they won the next five points over a weary Korea to take the set 15-12, and the match 3-2.
For Korea it was hard to be disappointed, as the single point they received for winning two sets guarantees they will be going to Rio.
And for Thailand the dream is still alive, although it would need Japan to lose their last two matches, against Italy and Netherlands, and then win their final match against Peru to get to their first Olympics.
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