China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand are top seeds in the 2013 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship. All four Asian powerhouse squads played true to form in the quarterfinals and beat separate rivals in similar straight sets fashion to advance to the semifinal round of the tournament held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Japan manhandled Iran, 25-16, 25-13, 25-11 to set up a semis match-up with South Korea which defeated Kazakhstan, 25-12, 25-23, 25-20.

In the other final four pair, hosts Thailand defeated Taiwan, 25-13, 25-14, 25-23 to set a date with 12-time Asian champions China, which beat Vietnam, 25-15, 25-20, 25-13.

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Curiously, the past three champions in the Asian championship are China, Thailand and Japan.

The Chinese beat the Japanese in the 2011 title game in Taipei, Taiwan. The Thais and Japanese notched championships in 2009 (Hanoi, Vietnam) and 2007 (Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand), respectively, and both wins at the expense of China.

While Iran, Taiwan and Kazakhstan and Vietnam failed to get past the quarterfinal rounds, all four teams have already qualified for the 2014 AVC Cup for Women.

China, Japan, Thailand and South Korea are vying for berths in the 2013 FIVB World Grand Champions Cup from Nov 12 to 17. Only the Asian champion in this tournament will be sent as a representative.

Japan and China, who are automatic qualifiers in the 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix, will now be joined by Thailand and South Korea in the tournament in July 2014.

2013 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship – Quarterfinals Scores
Japan def. Iran, 25-16, 25-13, 25-11
South Korea def. Kazakhstan, 25-12, 25-23, 25-20
Thailand def. Chinese Taipei, 25-13, 25-14, 25-23
China def. Vietnam, 25-15, 25-20, 25-13

2013 Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship – Classification Round Scores
Australia def. Philippines, 25-22, 25-15, 25-23
Indonesia def. India, 32-30, 23-25, 25-17, 25-21
Mongolia vs. Myanmar, 25-15, 25-19, 25-18
Hong Kong vs. Sri Lanka, 25-18, 25-17, 25-18