Tianjin: The Thai women's volleyball team is set to face Japan in the semi-finals of the 2026 Asian Volleyball Championship, hosted at the Tianjin Gymnasium in Tianjin, China.

According to Thai News Agency, the Japanese team, ranked 6th globally, secured their place in the semi-finals after defeating Chinese Taipei, ranked 37th, with a clean 3-0 victory. The match saw Japan, donned in red uniforms, clinching the sets with scores of 25-14, 25-21, and 25-13. Key players Mayu Ishikawa and Yukiko Wada led the charge, with Wada scoring a game-high 19 points.

The Thai team, wearing blue uniforms and ranked 17th in the world, earned their semi-final spot following a decisive 3-0 victory over South Korea, ranked 28th. The match concluded with scores of 25-20, 25-18, and 25-21, with Pimpichaya Kokram emerging as the top scorer, also with 19 points. The semi-final clash between Thailand and Japan is scheduled for August 29th at 4:15 PM Thailand time.

Coach Kiatipong Ratchatagriangrai, affectionately known as "Coach Ott," expressed the significance of this achievement, stating that reaching the semi-finals marks the accomplishment of their initial goal. The tournament carries high stakes as the champion will automatically qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA, and the top three teams will earn spots in the 2027 Volleyball World Championship.