Players of China react after scoring in the FIVB Women's World Championship match against Argentina in Arnhem, Netherlands, September 25, 2022. /CMG
China beat Argentina 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20) in their first match at the FIVB Women's World Championship in Arnhem, Netherlands, on Sunday.
China are without multiple key players including Zhu Ting and Zhang Changning at the tournament. Meanwhile, opposite hitter Gong Xiangyu didn't start in Sunday's match due to an ankle injury.
China have never lost to Argentina. In the first set, Li Yingying, Wang Yizhu and Wang Yulu kept China in the lead with effective spiking, but Argentina pulled within one or two points on several occasions. In the end, a key play by Li helped China win the first set 25-23.
China (R) vs. Argentina in the FIVB Women's World Championship match in Arnhem, Netherlands, September 25, 2022. /CMG
Argentina scored first in the second set, but China soon turned the tide with solid blocks. After taking a 16-14 lead, China went on a 6-0 run with Li's lobbing, double blocks and by exploiting the mistakes the opponent made. Though Argentina again cut their deficit down to one point (23-22) with storming counterstrikes, Li stood out again by scoring two points in a row for China to win this set and lead 2-0.
Third set was almost identical to the second. China trailed first but soon gained the lead and again led by six points (18-12). Argentina scored four consecutive points in response. After China called a timeout, Li kept scoring from both front and back, extending the lead to five points (21-16) again for China, who would eventually seal this set and the match with a double block.
China will play Colombia on September 27. In the other match of Pool D on Sunday, Brazil defeated the Czech Republic 3-1 (25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 25-18).