Japan W vs Vietnam W

Japan controlled the tempo from the opening serve. Set one was the tightest of the three — Vietnam hung within touching distance until 23-23, but Japan won the decisive two points to take it 25-23. The second set was less forgiving: Japan's blocking and floor defence limited Vietnam's attacking options, and the Japanese rolled to a 25-17 win. Vietnam offered stiffer resistance in the third, but Japan closed it out 25-21 to seal the sweep.

The straight-set win meant Japan finished pool play with a maximum nine points and a set ratio of 9-0, the only team in the entire tournament to go through the preliminary phase without conceding a set.

The first set proved decisive. Vietnam, buoyed by their 3-0 victory over Hong Kong the previous day, matched Japan point-for-point through the first 46 points of the match. But at 23-23, Japan's experience under pressure told — a well-placed serve forced a weak return, and Japan converted to reach set point before finishing the job on the next rally. Had Vietnam stolen the opener, the dynamic would have shifted. Instead, Japan carried that momentum into a dominant second set and never looked back.

Opposite hitter Yukiko Wada continued to be Japan's offensive engine. She had registered 19 points (15 kills, two blocks, two aces) against Korea two days earlier and replicated that scoring output against Vietnam, leading all scorers on the night. Outside hitter Yoshino Sato provided reliable support with powerful swings and consistent serve reception.

For Vietnam, captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy carried the offensive load as she had throughout the tournament, leading her side's scoring from the opposite position. Outside hitter Pham Huong, who scored 15 points against Hong Kong on 24 August, was again a key contributor.

The set scores — 25-23, 25-17, 25-21 — tell a story of increasing control rather than outright domination. Vietnam were within striking distance in sets one and three, but Japan's ability to edge tight moments was the decisive factor. The middle set was where Japan's superiority showed most clearly, with a five-point margin that reflected stronger blocking and transition play. The cumulative scoring gap (75-61 over three sets) underlines that while Vietnam competed, they never led by more than two points at any critical juncture.

Japan's perfect 9-0 set record across pool play confirms their status as one of the tournament favourites, alongside defending champions Thailand and hosts China, who also entered the elimination rounds unbeaten.

Japan topped Pool C with maximum points and advance to the quarterfinals as a pool winner. Vietnam finished second in Pool C with three points from one win (3-0 vs Hong Kong) and two losses (1-3 vs Korea, 0-3 vs Japan). Their set ratio of 3-6 left them in contention for one of the two best third-placed spots, pending results from other pools.

Japan's next fixture is the quarterfinal, scheduled for 27 August in Tianjin. The tournament offers a berth at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and three spots at the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup.

Japan handled their business efficiently — three matches, three straight-set wins, no drama. Vietnam showed resilience in patches but lacked the firepower to trouble a Japan side that looks increasingly cohesive. Japan enter the knockout rounds as a legitimate title contender.