South Korea Women's Volleyball Team Defeats Vietnam 3-1 in Asian Championship Opener

The South Korean women's national volleyball team secured a 3-1 victory over Vietnam in their opening match of the 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship. The win, achieved with set scores of 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, and 25-17, serves as revenge for previous defeats against Vietnam in the 2023 edition of the tournament and the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Captain Kang So-hwi was the standout player, scoring a match-high 20 points. Na Hyun-su contributed 14 points, and Lee Da-hyeon added 13 points to the team's total. The team, ranked 28th globally, showed resilience after dropping the second set, rallying to win the third and fourth sets decisively.

Under the guidance of head coach Cha Sang-hyeon, the team aims to advance in the tournament. South Korea is currently second in Group C, trailing only Japan, which defeated Hong Kong 3-0. The top two teams from each of the three groups, along with the two best third-place teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.

The tournament also serves as a qualifier for major international events. The champions will earn a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while the top three finishers will qualify for the 2027 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup. South Korea is set to face a strong Japanese team in their next group stage match.