Perfect timing: Japan's Saori Sakoda spikes the ball against Cuba's Yanelis Santos in a FIVB Olympic Volleyball world qualifier on Friday in Tokyo. Japan defeated the three-time world champions in five sets. KYODOThe hosts, chasing one of the final four berths at the London Olympics available here, beat three-time Olympic champion Cuba 25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 23-25, 17-15. The five-set win earned Japan two points in the standings, moving it into second place on 11, four points back of Russia in the eight-team, round-robin tournament.It was power against power as the sides blasted away in the first five-set match of the tournament. Saori Sakoda and Saori Kimura spearheaded the Japan attack with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Yukiko Ebata contributed 10 tallies.It was Sakoda's late-match heroics that carried Japan to the stirring victory this night as she dominated in the fourth and fifth.Yoana Palacios had a match-high 22 points in the loss. Wilma Salas added 19 for Cuba, while Rosana Giel and Yanelis Santos finished with 17 and 16.Cuba made 40 unforced errors compared to only 11 by Japan. The defeated side held the advantage in blocks 16-4 and both sides scored via eight aces. "I was very happy to win," Sakoda said. "We want to do the same thing again tomorrow. Wearing the Japan uniform means always having to be prepared. My job is to chance the flow and mood of the game when I come in. I was able to do it tonight."Added Kimura: "I was determined to destroy their attack with a strong serve."The Russians, who take on Japan on Saturday, defeated Serbia 25-18, 25-11, 14-25, 25-22 as the Serbs became the first team in the tournament to take a set off Russia.Thailand improved to nine points with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-20 victory over Peru, while South Korea joined the Thais at nine with a 25-8, 25-12, 25-18 win over winless Taiwan.
Showing posts with label qualifier. Show all posts
Showing posts with label qualifier. Show all posts
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Japan edges Cuba in Olympic women's volleyball qualifier
Japan scraped out its fourth win of the Women's 2012 World Olympic qualification tournament at Tokyo Gymnasium on Friday, needing five sets to beat Cuba.Perfect timing: Japan's Saori Sakoda spikes the ball against Cuba's Yanelis Santos in a FIVB Olympic Volleyball world qualifier on Friday in Tokyo. Japan defeated the three-time world champions in five sets. KYODOThe hosts, chasing one of the final four berths at the London Olympics available here, beat three-time Olympic champion Cuba 25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 23-25, 17-15. The five-set win earned Japan two points in the standings, moving it into second place on 11, four points back of Russia in the eight-team, round-robin tournament.It was power against power as the sides blasted away in the first five-set match of the tournament. Saori Sakoda and Saori Kimura spearheaded the Japan attack with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Yukiko Ebata contributed 10 tallies.It was Sakoda's late-match heroics that carried Japan to the stirring victory this night as she dominated in the fourth and fifth.Yoana Palacios had a match-high 22 points in the loss. Wilma Salas added 19 for Cuba, while Rosana Giel and Yanelis Santos finished with 17 and 16.Cuba made 40 unforced errors compared to only 11 by Japan. The defeated side held the advantage in blocks 16-4 and both sides scored via eight aces. "I was very happy to win," Sakoda said. "We want to do the same thing again tomorrow. Wearing the Japan uniform means always having to be prepared. My job is to chance the flow and mood of the game when I come in. I was able to do it tonight."Added Kimura: "I was determined to destroy their attack with a strong serve."The Russians, who take on Japan on Saturday, defeated Serbia 25-18, 25-11, 14-25, 25-22 as the Serbs became the first team in the tournament to take a set off Russia.Thailand improved to nine points with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-20 victory over Peru, while South Korea joined the Thais at nine with a 25-8, 25-12, 25-18 win over winless Taiwan.
Perfect timing: Japan's Saori Sakoda spikes the ball against Cuba's Yanelis Santos in a FIVB Olympic Volleyball world qualifier on Friday in Tokyo. Japan defeated the three-time world champions in five sets. KYODOThe hosts, chasing one of the final four berths at the London Olympics available here, beat three-time Olympic champion Cuba 25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 23-25, 17-15. The five-set win earned Japan two points in the standings, moving it into second place on 11, four points back of Russia in the eight-team, round-robin tournament.It was power against power as the sides blasted away in the first five-set match of the tournament. Saori Sakoda and Saori Kimura spearheaded the Japan attack with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Yukiko Ebata contributed 10 tallies.It was Sakoda's late-match heroics that carried Japan to the stirring victory this night as she dominated in the fourth and fifth.Yoana Palacios had a match-high 22 points in the loss. Wilma Salas added 19 for Cuba, while Rosana Giel and Yanelis Santos finished with 17 and 16.Cuba made 40 unforced errors compared to only 11 by Japan. The defeated side held the advantage in blocks 16-4 and both sides scored via eight aces. "I was very happy to win," Sakoda said. "We want to do the same thing again tomorrow. Wearing the Japan uniform means always having to be prepared. My job is to chance the flow and mood of the game when I come in. I was able to do it tonight."Added Kimura: "I was determined to destroy their attack with a strong serve."The Russians, who take on Japan on Saturday, defeated Serbia 25-18, 25-11, 14-25, 25-22 as the Serbs became the first team in the tournament to take a set off Russia.Thailand improved to nine points with a 25-19, 25-19, 25-20 victory over Peru, while South Korea joined the Thais at nine with a 25-8, 25-12, 25-18 win over winless Taiwan.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Nagai hurts ankle prior to qualifier
Toyota, Aichi Pref. — Star striker Kensuke Nagai gave Japan Under-22 coach Takashi Sekizuka an injury scare Friday when he pulled out of training two days ahead of a crunch opening London Olympic qualifier against Kuwait.Nagoya forward Nagai, who struck twice in a recent 3-1 friendly win over Australia's U-22s, had Sekizuka sweating when he tweaked his left ankle, although the injury is not thought to be serious."That gave everyone a bit of a fright," said Sekizuka. "We are having him take it easy."Sekizuka said he was unsure whether it would affect the 2010 Asian Games top scorer's chances of playing in the first leg of the second-round qualifier against Kuwait at Toyota Stadium.But midfielder Kazuya Yamamura sought to calm fears, saying, "He was walking normally so I think he will be alright."Japan travels to the Middle East for the away tie next Thursday. The winner over two legs advances to the final round of qualifiers starting in September."We need to win and not allow our opponents to get an away goal. That's basically what you need to get in the first leg," said Sekizuka.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tomita stuns Kitajima in qualifier
HAMAMATSU, Shizuoka Pref. (Kyodo) Naoya Tomita on Monday stunned reigning Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima to win the men's 200 meters breaststroke on the final day of a qualifying meet for this summer's world championships in Shanghai.Tomita wrecked Kitajima's hopes of a double after Saturday's triumph in the 100, powering home in 2 minutes, 08.25 seconds to top the qualifying standard set by the Japan Swimming Federation and secure a berth at the July 16-31 worlds.Kitajima clocked 2:09.26 for second place, while Kazuki Otsuka was in third in 2:09.94.
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