Women's Volleyball Advances to Semifinals After Defeating Turkey
On the 4th, at the Ariake Arena in Japan, Kim Yeon-koung of South Korea, who won the women's volleyball quarterfinal match between South Korea and Turkey at the Tokyo Olympics, is cheering. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] The South Korean women's volleyball team, led by Kim Yeon-koung, defeated Turkey in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals. It is the first time in nine years since the 2012 London Games that South Korean women's volleyball has reached the Olympic semifinals.
On the morning of the 4th at 9 a.m., South Korea won the 2020 Tokyo Olympic women's volleyball quarterfinal match against Turkey at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo with a set score of 3-2 (17-25, 25-17, 28-26, 18-25, 15-13). South Korea will face the winner of the Brazil vs. Russian Olympic Committee match, scheduled for 9:30 p.m. that day, in a battle for a spot in the final.
South Korea started with left-side hitters Kim Yeon-koung and Park Jeong-ah, and right-side hitter Kim Hee-jin. The setter was Yeom Hye-seon, and the centers were Yang Hyo-jin and Kim Su-ji. The libero position was held by Oh Ji-young.
In the early stages of the match, the Korean players showed clear signs of nervousness. They were led by Turkey's momentum and lost the first set relatively quickly. However, in the second set, South Korea revived the atmosphere and maintained a lead throughout. The point difference even doubled at one point.
After successfully counterattacking in the second set, South Korea engaged in a tight battle with Turkey in the third set. After three deuce points, they secured the win. In the early part of the fourth set, South Korea conceded three consecutive points, losing momentum and eventually the set. The fifth set saw a back-and-forth rally, but Kim Yeon-koung’s successful spike in the final moments secured South Korea’s ticket to the semifinals.
The key factor in the victory was 'ace' Kim Yeon-koung’s deep understanding of Turkey’s strategies and tactics. Kim Yeon-koung joined the Turkish league in 2011 and played for prestigious clubs such as Fenerbah?e and Eczacıba?ı for many years. Among the 12 players on the Turkish national team, 11 had either been teammates with or directly competed against Kim Yeon-koung. Turkey’s ace Eda Erdem is a close friend of Kim Yeon-koung, having spent six years together at Fenerbah?e.
The South Korean women's volleyball team is cheering after winning the quarterfinal match against Turkey at the Tokyo Olympics. [Image source=Yonhap News]
With South Korea’s dramatic advancement to the semifinals, a medal is now within reach. South Korea’s first and only Olympic medal was a bronze at the 1976 Montreal Games. Securing at least a bronze would mark the first medal in 45 years. If South Korea wins a silver or higher, it would be the first precious achievement in 57 years since women’s volleyball was officially included as an Olympic event at the first Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
