The Chinese dominated the second set despite more challenge from the Thai women, whose world ranking is 70 compared to the Chinese pair's second ranking. Wang and Tian, who captured two World Tour crowns this year, clinched the second set 21-15 to take the match and third place.

Kamolthip and Jarunee had to be content with fourth, the same position they had got in the previous games in Busan.

Meanwhile, in indoor volleyball, Thai women lost a hard-fought 3-0 thriller to in-form Japan in the semi-finals. The Japanese, who never expected their rivals to give such a tough fight, defeated a defiant Thai team 32-20 25-17 25-17 at Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall on Sunday night.

Thailand's points in the thrilling first set came from blocks battling out with their taller rivals. Japan's libero Kaoru Sugayama lost her concentration, allowing Thailand to exploit space in the right back court.

A magnificent first set that should have gone to Thailand went instead to Japan, after two spikes landed just shy of the back line. Thailand led from the start in the second set but Pleumjit Thinkaow was not as commanding in her blocks as in the first.

Japanese coach Shoichi Yanagimjoto played his cards right, using all his substitutions and time-outs to slow down the tempo of the game when Thailand's defensive mistakes were mounting in the third set. Substitute Saymai Paladsrichuay's cross-court spikes revived the Thai offence. Thailand clawed their way back slowly but service errors cost them the game and Japan took the set and the match.

Japan will play China in the gold-medal match today, while Thailand face Taiwan in the play-off for third.

In the men's team event, Thailand's dreams of advancing to the quarter-finals fizzled out after they finished third in Group B. They  beat Hong Kong 3-0 in their final encounter.

Preechachan     Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

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