Tokyo, Japan, May 28, 2016 - The last match of the second day at the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Tokyo is sure to raise the adrenaline since Asian giants Japan and China will meet up in an all-time classic.
Head-to-head
• The last two encounters between Japan and China at World Olympic Qualification tournaments came in 2012 (3-1 win for China) and 2004 (3-2 win for China).
• Besides their World Olympic Qualification meeting in 2012, their last meeting at a world level tournament came in 2011 in the World Cup when Japan won in straight sets.
• Their most recent meeting came at the 2015 Asian Championships when China won 3-1 in the first round. Japan eventually won the tournament while China grabbed bronze.
Japan
• Japan won their first match at the World Olympic Qualification tournament against Venezuela (3-1).
• It was the only second time in six participations, they won their opening match at the tournament, after 2004 (3-0 against Algeria).
• Japan lost the following match in 2004 against China, which means they can win their first two matches at the qualification tournament for the first time.
• Only Antonin Rouzier (FRA) (22) scored more points in the opening matchround than Kunihiro Shimizu (21).
• Shimizu scored four points from aces, most of all players.
China
• China lost their opening match versus France (3-1).
• China could lose their first two matches at the World Olympic Qualification tournament for the first time.
• They could also lose three consecutive matches at the tournament for the first time, after they also lost their final match in 2012 against Australia (3-0).
• Chen Zhang and Zhi Yuan scored four points from blocks against France, equal-most of all players on the first day together with Amir Ghafour (IRI).