Japan's Men's and Women's teams finished their Paralympic competition without winning a single match; both placed eighth in the Men's and Women's Sitting Volleyball 5-8 classification matches at the CAU Gymnasium on Saturday, September 13.
In the Women's competition, Ukraine finished fifth -- the same position as they finished in Athens 2004. Lithuania came sixth and Latvia seventh.
In the Men's tournament, China gained the fifth position and Brazil the sixth. Iraq earned their first victory by beating Japan and placed seventh.
Women's competition
Ukraine v Lithuania (3-0) -- 5th-6th positions
World No. 4 Ukraine classified fifth at these Games after overwhelming World No. 6 Lithuania 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-19), thus duplicating the position they gained at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. Lithuania played poorly both on attack and defense. A disappointing performance by coach and key player Ruta Cvirkiene did not help Lithuania, while attacker Jolita Urbutiene also struggled. Ukraine's offence, lead by Larysa Klochkova, Anzhelika Churkina and Ilona Yudina, was stronger and more effective.
Latvia v Japan (3-2) -- 7th-8th positions
World No. 9 Latvia struggled to take their first and only victory at these Games to classify seventh, beating World No. 10 Japan 3-2 (21-17, 10-25, 9-25, 25-19, 15-12) in a very close match. Japan classified eighth at these Games, after placing seventh at the last Paralympics. In the first set, Latvia struggled with too many errors on defense and with ball handling, hurt by an inconsistent performance by attacker Irina Jermolenko. Japan took advantage with a good setting game and with Omura Shiori's sharp spikes, while Latvia seemed unable to react. Nevertheless, the European team was able to refocus in crucial moments and eventually secured the victory in the fifth set.
Men's competition
China v Brazil (3-1) -- 5th-6th positions
China classified fifth at these Paralympic Games defeating Brazil 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-18, 25-13). The host team played a steady game with kill blocks and sharp hits by Zhang Zhongmin and Zhou Canming holding Brazil's energy back. The South American team had their best performance at these Paralympics playing a well-coordinated game. Mighty attacks and fast blocks by Gilberto Silva, Wescley Oliveira, Giovani Freite and Samuel Arantes were able to neutralize China in the second set and part of the third set. Brazil finished in the sixth position.
Japan v Iraq (3-0) -- 7th - 8th positions
Iraq classified seventh earning their first and only victory at these Games by beating Japan 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-19). Japan placed eighth, two places lower than their sixth place finish in Athens 2004. Iraq ruled the beginning of the first set with Hadi Juboori and Salah Al-Shammari scoring on precise spikes that Japan could not defend. Left-handed Tanaka Koji hit fast balls too, but he also had attack mistakes that kept Japan at a disadvantage. The third set was more evenly contested, but Iraq's attackers kept up the pressure and closed out the match.
(BOCOG September 13, 2008)