Are they really retired??

I am wondering if the Japanese players competed in Beijing Olympics Games will no longer come back for the national team?????
My question is due to the interview of the current Japanese head coach Sadatoshi Sugawara given on 6th October after his team defeated to Korea 0-3 sets.


“We are newly-formed team. Most of my girls are still young and inexperienced. The senior players are taking a one-month break after they competed in the Beijing Olympic Games. However, I don’t think they will return to join the team anymore. After this championship, we will return to Japan . Everyone gets ready to play for her own clubs in the National Volleyball League,”

http://www.asianvolleyball.org/Volleyball/2008-10-06/215811.html

Newly-formed Japan defeated 2-3 sets to Thailand

In the 3rd-place match between host Thailand and a newly-formed Japan today, Thailand eventually took a bronze medal with 3-2 sets won. (28 - 26, 23 - 25, 18 - 25, 25 - 21, 15 - 7)


Sources are posted by
JJ_Rod from these following links:

http://www.pantip.com/cafe/supachalasai/topic/S7073151/S7073151.html

http://www.pantip.com/cafe/supachalasai/topic/S7073670/S7073670.html

http://www.pantip.com/cafe/supachalasai/topic/S7074512/S7074512.html

Un-official 12 teams to showdown in WGP 2009

Now that we have an un-official 12 women teams to compete in World Grand Prix 2009.

1. Brazil
2. China
3. Dominican Republic
4. Germany
5. Japan
6. Korea
7. Netherlands
8. Poland
9. Puerto Rico
10. Russia
11. Thailand
12. USA

Current world Ranking

1. Brazil
2. Italy
3. USA
4. Cuba
5. China
6. Serbia
7. Japan
8. Russia
9. Poland
10. Korea
http://www.fivb.org/en/volleyball/Rankings/Rank_women_2008_08.asp

It is very unfortunate that the two giants like Cuba and Italy were not be able to qualify for next year WGP. However, Korea and Russia finally come back to the place where they should be.

Teams to play in final 4 round

China, Korean, Thailand, and Japan are finally the final four teams to play in semi-final. Korea and Thailand, in addition, get the tickets for the World Grand Prix 2009.

According to the Article from Asianvolleyball

As I am one of big fans of Japanese women volleyball, I have found a peculiar part from an article, which mentioned the history of previous editions of Asian Championship and Asian Games.

From the following article, the author mentioned

" In the Sunday’s quarter-finals, unbeaten Korea, world number 10 and silver medalists in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, fielded experienced veterans and their superb form cannot be underestimated."

http://www.asianvolleyball.org/Volleyball/2008-10-04/215340.html

But, as for my narrow knowledge, Korean finished 5th after beating Kazakhtan in straight sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-14), while Chinese Taipei finished 3rd after stunning Thailand 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-14). At Doha Asian Games 2006, the silver medalists went for Japanese women team defeated 1-3 (25-22, 10-25, 23-25, 14-25) to China.

Can anyone proof if my memory serves it right?

China downed a newly-formed Japan in straight sets

CHN-JPN 3-0 (25-9, 25-22, 25-13)

http://www.asianvolleyball.org/bulltin/2008-10-04/215155.html


In my opinion, it is clever decision for JVA to send the young women team to gain more experiences in the international tournaments. The major reason is that Japan is already automatically through the final round of the World Grand Prix 2009.

Here are the young players newly formed for this tournament.

http://www.jva.or.jp/world/2008/asiacup/women/list.php

Among the 12 players, I have ever seen the performance of Katou, no. 7, whose postion is in a middle blocker. She is quite smart and skillful.

Kimura Saori is a real popular player among Thai fans

มาดูกันว่า เธอฮอทมากแค่ไหนในเมืองไทย คงไม่มีแฟนวอลเล่ย์คนไหนไม่รู้จักเธอคนนี้ Kimura Saori

It is obvious that Kimura Saori, all-round player, is really popular among Thai fans. Let's take a look what Thai people talked about her.

http://www.pantip.com/cafe/supachalasai/topic/S6986267/S6986267.html

But, Thai people,who are in loved with volleyball and expecting to see her in the Asian Championship, are a bit disappointed when she did not compete in this tournament as the JVA sent the newly formed team participating instead of the Olympics team.