We’re just one day away from the start of the women’s volleyball competition at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
On Sept. 30, the women’s volleyball competition at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games will begin in earnest. South Korea will play its first match a day later on Oct. 1, but with some of the dark horses in this year’s bracket, the 30th match will be of interest to volleyball fans.
Starting at 10:30 a.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET), the veil is lifted on North Korea. North Korea will face India (ranked 65th in the world) in their Group A match.
The North Korean women’s volleyball team roster for the Asian Games includes Kim Hyo-na (22, 175 cm), Er Ryong-kyong (17, 177 cm), Lim Lim-hyang (26, 173 cm), and Kim Jin-hyang (20, 173 cm), Son Hyang Mi (25, 171 cm), Lee Jong Hyang (25, 176 cm), Lim Hyang (29, 172 cm), Choi Bok Hyang (21, 181 cm), Kim Hyun Joo (21, 182 cm), Cho Shin Geum (20, 179 cm), and Lira Hyang (26, 178 cm).
The overall height of the team is in the 170s, with the youngest member, 17-year-old Eo Rong-kyung, standing out. The tallest player is Kim Hyun-joo at 182 centimeters.
Jung Jin-sim (182 cm, OH), who scored 30 points against South Korea at the 2017 Asian Championship six years ago, is not currently on the North Korean roster. North Korea is also at an age where there has been a generational change. Other than that, little is known about their history.
Currently, North Korea is ranked outside the top 110 by the FIVB. Due to sanctions, the team hasn’t been able to compete in international tournaments and hasn’t had a chance to improve its ranking.
South Korea defeated India 3-0 at the Asian Championships, but the sets were close, with all of them hovering around the 20-point mark. India had 11 kills from Surya (185 cm) and eight from Rajendran Sindhu Shilpa (189 cm), both middle blockers. Both Surya and Shilpa were named to the roster for the tournament, and Indian setter Kobat Sajjini started the game and ran the offense that pushed South Korea around.
If North Korea can easily defeat India and take the first point, it will give us a good idea of what they are capable of.
At 3:30 p.m. ET, Asian powerhouse Japan 토토사이트 will take on Hong Kong, ranked 69th in the world. With such a large gap in power, the outcome is expected.
Nepal (ranked 89th) and Vietnam (ranked 39th), who are also in Group C, will face off at the same time.