Olympic Games - London 2012 Women (qualification process)

    Quote from volleystella

    Why would it been benefitiary for both sides...tell me. Why is it better for Japan that they qualified with Serbia and not with Thailand? If you can explain it to me I will be surprised.

    I don't know why it is so hard to understand...it was the only result that guaranteed both teams a place in Olympics. With any other result, one of the teams would have been out, so the idea to think about an agreement for 3:2 result beforehand and play a relaxed match instead of having to fight hard to qualify is at least possible.


    But anyway, I'm slowly getting tired of this topic as well...I have made my opinion clear several times, and as many people already said, we will never know if anything happened behind the scenes, nothing will change any more, so it's time to move on...

    Quote from volleystella

    Why would it been benefitiary for both sides...tell me. Why is it better for Japan that they qualified with Serbia and not with Thailand? If you can explain it to me I will be surprised.



    Japan did not want to take the risk. Serbia have beaten Japan before, and if Serbia did it again, Japan will fell short of Olympic. To play safe, Japan might agree to let Serbia win but only by 3-2, the only score that sent both teams to Olympic. One may easily understand the storyboard, needless to explain. Although the result may not change, it would be on record that both teams lack sporting spirits.

    Stop whining, it's over

    Quote from Khun Nu Eng



    Japan did not want to take the risk. Serbia have beaten Japan before, and if Serbia did it again, Japan will fell short of Olympic. To play safe, Japan might agree to let Serbia win but only by 3-2, the only score that sent both teams to Olympic. One may easily understand the storyboard, needless to explain. Although the result may not change, it would be on record that both teams lack sporting spirits.


    IMHO, what's wrong is not Serbia nor Japan. The rule of the OQT was the only one to be blamed under which even a looser could get 1 point. Let's stop blaming Japan nor Serbia. :dance4:

    Thailand comeback stuns Japan


    The teams walk out at the start


    Komaki, Japan, June 17, 2012 - Perhaps the most intriguing second round match-up from Pool F in the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix came on Sunday with a spirited Thailand team, in third place overall with 12 points so far after Saturday’s games, taking on the host Japanese squad who came into the match in eighth place with nine points. Thailand looked out for the count in this one, but miraculously battled back from a set down to take it 3-2 (25-15, 16-25, 22-25, 25-19, 18-16).


    Both sides had evenly distributed scoring in this match, each with four players in double digits. Japan was led by Yukiko Ebata with 22. For Thailand, Pleumjit Thinkow and their captain Wilavan Apinyapong had 16 each. Thailand won, despite being outblocked 13 to five.


    Thailand’s Nootsara Tomkom, tied for third in tournament serving with nine aces so far, kicked this one off with her tenth, setting an example her team would quickly follow, and pushing to a 9-5 lead. Thailand were playing quick, aggressive volleyball with Amporn Hyapha scoring well, picking off a corner with a spike, followed by yet another ace, this time from Onuma to make it 16-8. Japan’s Saori Sakoda had some successful attacks, but Thailand’s serving was the story in the set, as five of their starters had aces, including Pleumjit Thinkow who closed with one, 25-15.


    The second set was a far closer affair, with Japan blocking better as Iwasaka had a pair of them on Onuma and Wilavan early to help Japan up 11-9. Sakoda then delivered two of her trademark flying spikes, followed by an Ebata ace that made it 17-13 for the home side. Thailand committed some errors to let Japan extend to 21-15, and from there Iwasaka brought it home with a clever tip, her fifth score of the set, taking it 25-16, one set apiece.


    With Ebata and Mizuho Ishida attacking well to start the third, Kanako Hirai gave Japan an 11-8 lead with her fourth block of the match on Malika Kanthong. An Iwasaka ace later let Japan edge further ahead to 21-17. Malika and Pleumjit brought Thailand back close, but Japan showed too much hustle with Ishida digging an incredible ball on set point, letting Japan take it 25-22.


    The teams edged out to 6-6 in the fourth when Thailand’s Onuma got hot helping her side take five of the next six points to go up 12-7. A pair of spikes by Thai captain Wilavan extended the lead to 19-12, putting her side in control. Ebata helped Japan fight off three set points, but a hard spike from Onuma took the fourth 25-19 for Thailand, tying two sets all.


    After four sets of quick, hectic volleyball, Japan looked poised to finish things as a pair of Ebata spikes edged them ahead 8-3. Her seventh point of the set made it 14-11 for Japan, and it was all but finished. But Thailand battled back miraculously, and a Wilavan block tied it at 14-14. An Onuma spike silenced the home town crowd and gave Thailand a match point, and after Japan’s Ishida sailed a spike long, Thailand clinched it 18-16, winning 3-2.

    MATCH INFO


    Thailand pulled of an incredible comeback against Japan in Komaki


    Komaki, Japan, June 17, 2012, Press Conference, Japan vs
    Thailand - Thailand was delighted to beat Japan in dramatic fashion in a
    five-set thriller in Komaki. The Thai coach noted that Japan had
    different players this time (with Takeshita and Kimura resting) but was
    proud of his team’s late effort in the win.



    Japan captain Yoshie Takeshita: We put together our
    attacking pattern with our setter Nakamichi, and individually, I think
    we played well. It would have better better of course, if we had won.
    But seeing them doing their best on each ball, it made me feel very
    good.



    Japan player Mizuho Ishida: I was responsible for
    serve reception with Sakoda, and Zayasu — and that’s not my normal
    responsibility. I think it was pretty good, though not quite good enough
    today. As for my attack, it was not strong enough, and that partly led
    to this result and I’m sorry for that.



    Japan player Kanako Hirai: As the middle attacker
    today, I had some effective side attacks as well, but towards the end we
    made some mistakes when we need points the most. So obviously we need
    to address that.



    Japan coach Masayosi Manabe: This was our first time
    to play five sets, and we lost. In this game we had lots of points as a
    team, but and we got to see the strong points and weak points of many
    of our players. Before the round in Osaka next week, I’m still not
    decided about which players will be best for the Olympics. For the <abbr style="cursor: help; border-bottom: 1px dashed;" title="Olympic
    Qualifying Tournament">OQT</abbr>, I thought the the team needed more
    speed simply because we don’t have powerful attackers like Russia’s
    Gamova and Korea’s Kim. We have to change into team faster than any
    other.



    Thailand captain Wilavan Apinyapong: It is true that
    we made many unforced errors today. We know we need to improve a lot,
    but we’re happy with this victory.



    Thailand coach Radchatagriengkai Kiattipong: First
    I’d like to congratulate my players today on their win. I didn’t think
    that we would win today. It was a very hard game for them, as Japan
    played every point very well. These conditions made my team make too
    many errors. But they came back in fourth and the fifth unified, and
    they play 100 percent to win. Congratulations to all of them. We’ll try
    our best next week as well.



    How does this compare to to 3-0 loss to Japan back in Tokyo:
    They had different players — a different setter, and some other players
    changed… so their technique is different.

    i think a lot of people here forget what sport is.
    it is not that thailand cannot qualify on their own feet or they need to rely on others to qualify.
    if only every team plays at its best so that the results reflect true rankings. Thailand will qualify and they totally deserve it according to sporting capabilities.
    if only JPN-SRB match happened early in the tournament, Thailand would be very likely to get to the Olympics.
    you know what, if Thailand only lost one more match that they won so that Japan would be ahead of them for sure no matter how JPN-SRB match will turn out to be. In that case Japan will secure a place in the OG at least as the best Asian team. In their match against Serbia, they will not tank the match in front of their home crowd for sure. But this was just because it was not confirmed for them for the Olympics ticket yet, it was likely that they fixed the match for their certainty. They are just too coward and lack sportmanship. what a disgrace for the sport.