China stage comeback win over Türkiye in FIVB Women's Nations League

In the FIVB Women's Nations League on Saturday, hosts China overcame Türkiye in a five-set thriller to pick up their third consecutive victory with the team hitting form as the Olympics approach.

China qualified after beating Germany on Saturday. But they started slow and the world number one team took the first set 25-21. Türkiye have booked their spot for the Nations League Finals and the Olympics and at times showed why they are considered the team to beat. Melissa Vargas got some of her match-high 31 points as her side dominated the second 25-17.

Playing in front of more than 10,000 home fans, China bounced back with a 25-21 win in the third after Beyza Arici served long. China's star spiker Zhu Ting didn't feature and outside hitter Li Yingying was the key player who leveled for China, contributing a team-high 25 points as China got level with a 25-23 victory in the fourth.

Trailing 13-12, Cai Bin's side won three points in a row to close out the contest 15-13 thanks to a joint block from Wang Yuanyuan and Wu Mengjie. The 10-time world champions sealed their third consecutive win in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and a place at the finals. The result also means Brazil surpassed Türkiye to become the new world number one side.

China will face Poland in their last match. Captain Yuan Xinyue put the win down to the support of the home fans in a post-match interview.

"I think today's victory is a result of our efforts, and if I speak for myself, I think it is a little bit slow, and my teammates' setups today were very good, so technically I think I should be a little bit faster. Also, I think today's victory is inseparable from the fans, they have been giving us encouragement, whether we were in the lead or behind, this victory also has a part of the audience," Yuan said.