China defeats Philippines in women's volleyball opener at Asian Games

China secured its first victory in Group B of the women's volleyball tournament at the 2026 Asian Games, defeating the Philippines in straight sets: 25-18, 25-22, and 25-8.

While the Philippines remained competitive through the first two sets, China dominated the third set to seal the win in 72 minutes. Tang Xin led the Chinese scoring with 19 points, supported by Zhuang Yushan with 17 and Wang Aoqian with 13. China head coach Zhao Yong noted that while the Philippines provided a spirited fight with strong back-row defense, the Chinese team struggled to apply sufficient defensive pressure during the second set.

The loss leaves the Philippines with a 0-1 record in Pool B, creating a must-win situation for their upcoming match against Kazakhstan. China will also face Kazakhstan on Friday as they seek to clinch the top seed in their group.