If you didn’t see it then this is your time to see it!
We can all agree that the 2010 Women’s World Championship Bronze Medal Match was one of the most exciting matches of the tournament! Soari Kimura and Yoshie Takeshita led Japan to win the bronze medal against the 2010 World Grand Prix Champion, USA.
Prior to this tournament, Japan had not medaled in any major international tournament. This victory is very memorable for the hosting team. Japan has found the right mix of players and we’re optimistic that they are one of the major contenders in the 2011 Grand Prix as well as the 2011 World Cup. They are Asia’s top team at the moment while China, Korea and Thailand continue to rebuild.
On the other hand, the Americans were definitely one of the top favorites to win the world crown after winning the 2010 Grand Prix. They didn’t play bad at all (we think). It’s just that the teams they played before the Bronze Medal match were very strong teams. They lost to Italy in 4, then lost to Brazil in another 4 set match and finally faltered against Russia in the semifinals. They had the toughest schedule! On a positive note, throughout the tournament we saw a talented breed of young players like the big banger Destinee Hooker, the reliable Jordan Larson, Alisha Glass and Foluke Akinradewo.
2011 is another exciting year for volleyball! A lot of teams are getting stronger and the tournament results are becoming unpredictable.
Anyways, here’s the Bronze Medal match with Press Quotes from the FIVB. Enjoy!
Japan coach Masayoshi Manabe: “I’m glad to win in the bronze-medal match. To get a medal was our goal this year, so I’m satisfied. We had 11 matches in this championship and it was a heavy schedule and we felt the pressure because Japan is the host country but our staff supported us and helped us win. (On Japan’s improved receiving) After the World Grand Prix, we tried to get back spikes better. All the players concentrated very well and we improved the level in each match. (On Japan’s style of leading on opponents’ errors and playing with caution) “Our ultimate goal is to win at the Olympic Games in 2012 so we have to adapt to change. We are going to learn and try a new style in the winter.”
Japan player Yoshie Takeshita: “Even though we lost the first set, our mood wasn’t so bad. We switched our focus to the next set very fast and that helped us improve. The US won a couple of sets but we didn’t want to lose this match. The strong feeling from scoring each and every point led us to victory. Throughout this tournament each match, starting with the first against Poland, influenced our play and help us go forward. (On the belief in the Japan camp) “During the World Grand Prix this summer, we were able to compete with the top-level teams. Also, our staff had studied the other teams’ data and gave us detailed direction, so I thought we had a chance to win a medal.”
Japan player Saori Kimura: “It was the last game, win or lose, and it was also a last chance for a medal so all of us had a strong mind and high motivation. Throughout this World Championship, getting a medal has been one of our goals. I feel happy that we could achieve it. We had many games in this tournament and I think that it is quite impossible to keep a perfect condition in every one but even when we had a hard game, keeping mentally strong was one of my aims. I don’t think that I could manage it entirely but I’m glad that we could get the medal.”
Japan player Mizuho Ishida: “I could not get on the court during this World Championship and I’ve been supporting my team-mates. But I was given a chance to play during the match against Brazil last night. Even though we were defeated, the mood of the team was actually good. Today I was very happy to get a chance to play and finally win this match.”
USA coach Hugh McCutcheon: “I’m proud of the way our team competed. Both the US and Japan did their best, and they were very good. As a result, we were defeated. It was a long tournament. We had the privilege of visiting various cities of Japan, and it was certainly different than playing in New York. That difference made it a bit difficult for us. Japan played a good match, so I want to congratulate them. We learned from this year, and hopefully we will come back stronger next year.”
USA player Destinee Hooker: “The US and Japan both battled so hard, and we just finished short, and we lost.”
(images & quotes: FIVB)