China celebrate huge win over hosts and defending champions Brazil that sees them through to the semifinals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 16, 2016 - The dream of a third straight Olympic gold turned into a nightmare for defending champions, hosts and top favourites Brazil, as China stunned their team and their sellout crowd at the Maracanazinho with the Asian side going through to the women's volleyball semifinals of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games together with The Netherlands, USA and Serbia.
The results also see two of the semifinalists, Serbia and The Netherlands already improve on their previous Olympic best, China return to the top our after missing out in London 2012 and USA on track to claim the only major title that still eludes them.
In a way, Brazil got a taste of their own medicine from London 2012, when they came into the quarterfinals as fourth from their pool, only to knock out Russia in the quarterfinals and go on to claim gold.
The holders of the FIVB World Cup China recovered from a disastrous first set to outlast Brazil
3-2 (15-25, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13).
Earlier in the day Serbia had obliterated Russia
3-0 (25-9, 25-22, 25-21) handing the reigning European champions one of their worst defeats in their history, while improving on both their own previous Olympic performances of 5th in Beijing 2008 and 11th in London 2012.
The Netherlands also improved on their two showings of 6th in Barcelona 1992 and 5th in Atlanta 1996 with their
3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 23-25, 25-20) win over Korea.
Finally, the regining world champions and London 2012 silver medallists USA shut out London 2012 bronze medallists Japan
3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-22).
The women's semifinals will be played on Thursday 18 August:
13:00 - Serbia v USA
22:15 - China v The Netherlands
Summary Statistics - Women’s Tournament Rio 2016Highest Scorer by Day30 – Kim Yeon Koung of Korea v Japan on August 6
22 – Paola Egonu of Italy v China on August 8
22 – Tatiana Kosheleva of Russia v Korea on August 8
22 – Nataliya Gonncharova of Russia v Korea on August 8
20 – Zhu Ting of China v Puerto Rico on August 10
25 – Christelle Tchoudjang of Cameroon v Argentina on August 12
23 – Zhu Ting of China v United States on August 14
28 – Zhu Ting of China v Brazil on August 16
Top Scoring Performances30 – Kim Yeon Koung of Korea v Japan on August 6
28 – Zhu Ting of China v Brazil on August 16
27 – Kim Yeon Koung of Korea v Netherlands on August 16
26 – Lonneke Sloetjes of Nethelands v China on August 6
25 – Christelle Tchoudjang of Cameroon v Argentina on August 12
24 – Zhu Ting of China v Netherlands on August 6
24 – Fernanda Rodrigues of Brazil v China on August 16
Top Individual Blocking Performances8 – Stephanie Fotso of Cameroon v Russia on August 10
5 – Robin De Kruijf of Nethelands v United States on August 8
5 – Erika Araki of Japan v Brazil on August 10
5 – Robin De Kruijf of Nethelands v Serbia on August 14
5 – Milena Rasic of Serbia v Russia on August 16
Top Individual Service Performances8 – Ekaterina Kosianenko of Russia v Argentina on August 6
5 – Irina Voronkova of Russia v Korea on August 8
5 – Judith Pietersen of Nethelands v Korea on August 16
5 – Tijana Boskovic of Serbia v Russia on August 16
4 – Yang Hyo Jin of Korea v Japan on August 6
4 – Tatiana Kosheleva of Russia v Korea on August 8
Top Team Blocking Performances15 – China v Netherlands on August 6
14 – Russia v Korea on August 8
14 – Italy v United States on August 12
14 – Netherlands v Serbia on August 14
14 – Serbia v Netherlands on August 14
Top Team Serving Performances12 – Russia v Korea on August 8
12 – Netherlands v Puerto Rico on August 12
12 – Netherlands v Korea on August 16
12 – Serbia v Russia on August 16
10 – Russia v Argentina on August 6
Highest Scoring Sets30-28 Russia v Japan (2nd Set) on August 12
29-27 Serbia v Puerto Rico (1st Set) on August 8
28-26 Cameroon v Argentina (3rd Set) on August 12
27-25 Serbia v Italy (1st Set) on August 6
27-25 Brazil v Korea (3rd Set) on August 12
Highest Scoring Matches216 - Argentina d Cameroon 3-2 (19-25, 25-19, 26-28, 25-21, 15-13) on August 12
212 - Netherlands d China 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 18-25, 25-22, 15-13) on August 6
210 – China d Brazil 3-2 (15-25, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 15-13) on August 16
206 – Netherlands v Serbia 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 18-25, 15-8) on August 14
200 - United States d Netherlands 3-2 (18-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-20, 15-8) on August 8
Quick links - Women's Quarterfinals - Tuesday, August 16: