The Korean men’s volleyball team defeated Brazil for the first time in 32 years.
The Korean national team, led by Brazilian coach Isanaye Ramirez, won the opening match against Brazil in the 2024 Korea Cup Jecheon International Men’s Volleyball Tournament held at the Jecheon Gymnasium in Chungcheongbuk-do on the 13th with a set score of 3-1 (25-23 23-25 25-22 25-21).
Brazil, ranked 7th in the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), sent young players with an average age of 20.4 to this tournament.
The elite Brazilian men’s volleyball team is preparing to compete at the Paris Olympics.
Although the opponent did not give it their all, it was the first time in 32 years that the Korean men’s volleyball team won against Brazil in an international competition, since the 1992 World League Seoul Tournament (Korea won 3-2).
Korea had lost 19 times to Brazil since the 1992 World League, but won in a ‘small-scale’ international tournament that day.
This is a encouraging result for the Korean men’s volleyball team, ranked 28th in the FIVB rankings, which has fallen to 4th or 5th place in Asia.
Every set was a close fight.
In the first set, Korea reached set point with an open attack by Heo Su-bong (Hyundai Capital) in a 23-22 rally, and won the first set with a follow-up attack by Shin Ho-jin (OK Financial Group) at 24-23.
Korea, which unfortunately lost the second set, was trailing 18-21 in the third set, but counterattacked by using Lim Dong-hyeok (Armed Forces Athletic Corps) as a joker.
Following Lim Dong-hyeok’s block and attack points, Brazil’s consecutive errors put Korea ahead 24-22, and Heo Su-bong ended the third set with a quick open.
In the 4th set, they also pulled off a thrilling comeback.
At 17-18, Hye-Bong Heo blocked Atu Chicova’s open attack, and Shin Ho-Jin also blocked a Brazilian attack, leading Korea to a 19-18 lead.
Coach Ramirez used the ‘double switch’ strategy of replacing setter Hwang Taek-ui with opposite spiker Lim Dong-hyeok in his place when he moved to the front, and replacing Shin Ho-jin, 커뮤니티 who moved down to the back, with setter Han Tae-jun (Woori Card).
Lim Dong-hyeok lived up to coach Ramirez’s expectations by successfully opening the scoring at 21-20.
Korea solidified its victory when Lee Sang-hyun (Woori Card) blocked Felipe Luque’s open attack at 22-20.
The match ended in a victory for Korea when Brazil’s Artur Butzmiyuk’s attack went wide at 24-21.
Korea will play its second match of the tournament against Japan at 2:00 PM on the 14th.
Japan, which qualified for the Paris Olympics, also sent a ‘second-tier player’ to this Jecheon competition.