China suffered a 3-2 defeat to arch-rival Brazil at the Women's Volleyball World Championship Thursday in Japan. The loss means China's last hope of entering the semi-finals is extinguished.

 

Olympic champions China squandered a two-set advantage to lose 24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 25-16 and finally 19-17 in a marathon match that lasted over two hours.

 

Falling to Russia and Germany in the first stage of the competition, the Chinese team needed to beat all comers in the second round to secure a berth in the last four.

 

Brazil took the upper-hand in the first set, leading 22-19 but Yang Hao helped China tie the score through two aces. With Xu Yunli and Wang Yimei continuing to score, China finally won at 26-24.

 

The Chinese team continued their winning momentum, taking the second set 25-20.

 

However, blessed with nerves of steel, the Brazilian women showed their world champion credentials in the following two sets, winning back to back 25-21 and 25-16.

 

The two teams fought for the lead in the decisive fifth set. It seemed that China would win as the team took an early advantage at 15-14. Unfortunately, the squandering of two match points proved fatal, finally handing over victory to Brazil.

 

The Chinese team will face Puerto Rico in their next match tomorrow afternoon.

 

(CRI November 10, 2006)