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Jonathan White

Follow our live coverage of day four of the Tokyo Olympics here
The record will show the China’s women’s volleyball team has played two and lost two at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Another 3-0 defeat at the Ariake Arena came their way at the hands of the world No 1 USA team to sit above only the lowly Argentina in group B.
That does not tell the whole story for the Rio 2016 Olympic gold medal winners and, along with the US, the favourites to stand atop the podium at these Games.
China were much more competitive than in their opening whitewash against Turkey, making the US work from the off.


The first set ended 29-27 to the Americans but this looked like the China of old and, more importantly to their medal hopes, Zhu Ting – the Rio 2016 MVP – was back to her old self.
China coach Lang Ping, who coached the USA team at the Beijing 2008 Olympics before winning back the public by guiding her country to Rio gold, had talked up her star player’s wrist injury after the Turkey defeat.



Zhu put that aside, top scoring for China with 18 points against a US side who saw a monster 34 points from Jordan Thompson.
Despite the positives in their second match, Lang’s side need to see results or Rio will seem a very distant memory.
China play the Russians on Thursday before matches against Italy and Argentina to round out the six-team group stage. The top four teams progress to the quarter-finals.


Meet Emma McKeon: Cody Simpson’s girlfriend is a superstar swimmer and Australia’s most decorated Olympian who worked hard to win her medals – and she can thank her career for her relationship too

Hong Kong museum to showcase Olympic medals from local, mainland Chinese athletes

Chinese Olympians show fun side while offering Hongkongers words of advice on never giving up

East Asia’s Olympics results are a testament to a changing world

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo Olympics: USA beats China in women’s volleyball to leave reigning champions winless

China’s Zhu Ting (left) spikes during the women's volleyball preliminary round match between China and the United States at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: Xinhua

Tokyo Olympics: China thrashed by Turkey in women’s volleyball opener, US next with star Zhu Ting an injury doubt

China’s Wang Yuanyuan spikes the ball in the women’s preliminary round pool B volleyball match against Turkey at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Photo: AFP

Turkey's players celebrate their victory in the women's preliminary round pool B volleyball match between China and Turkey during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Yuri Cortez / AFP)

China's Gong Xiangyu sets the ball in the women's preliminary round pool B volleyball match between China and Turkey during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on July 25, 2021. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

Tokyo Olympics: Wang Qiang loses to Garbine Muguruza, ending China interest in women’s tennis singles

China’s Wang Qiang in action during her second round match against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza during the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: REUTERS

Tokyo 2020: Hidilyn Diaz is Philippines’ first Olympic gold medallist after 55kg weightlifting triumph

Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz reacts while competing in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum. Photo: AFP

Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz (C) reacts after placing first in the women's 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

Gold medallist Philippines' Hidilyn Diaz stand on the podium for the victory ceremony of the women's 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

epa09367724 Hidilyn Diaz of the Philippines reacts in the Women's 55kg Snatch during the Weightlifting events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan, 26 July 2021. EPA-EFE/JEON HEON-KYUN

Tokyo Olympics: China in gold rush as Hong Kong watches another medal chance bite the dust

China’s Li Fabin, known as the ‘Flamingo’, wins the men’s 61kg weightlifting gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Swimming - Women's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay - Medal Ceremony - Tokyo Aquatics Centre - Tokyo, Japan - July 25, 2021. Silver medalists Kayla Sanchez of Canada, Margaret MacNeil of Canada, Rebecca Smith of Canada and Penny Oleksiak of Canada celebrate on the podium REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Table Tennis - Mixed Doubles - Quarterfinal - Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium - Tokyo, Japan - July 25, 2021. Wong Chun Ting of Hong Kong and Doo Hoi Kem of Hong Kong in action against Emmanuel Lebesson of France and Jia Nan Yuan of France REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

(210725) -- TOKYO, July 25, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Lam Siu Hang of Hong Kong, China, competes during the table tennis men's singles round 2 match against Sathiyan Gnanasekaran of India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, July 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

TOPSHOT - China's Shi Tingmao and China's Wang Han compete to win the gold medal in the women's synchronised 3m springboard diving final event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in Tokyo on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)

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Rio 2016 gold medal team slumps to another 3-0 defeat thanks to Jordan Thompson’s 34 points for world No 1
Though Lang Ping’s side are yet to win a set in Tokyo, there are positives including Zhu Ting’s return to form



Rio 2016 gold medal team slump to another 3-0 defeat thanks to Jordan Thompson’s 34 points.


Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Tokyo Olympics: USA beats China in women’s volleyball to leave reigning champions winless

Rio 2016 gold medal team slumps to another 3-0 defeat thanks to Jordan Thompson’s 34 points for world No 1 Though Lang Ping’s side are yet to win a set in Tokyo, there are positives including Zhu Ting’s return to form

Rio 2016 gold medal team slumps to another 3-0 defeat thanks to Jordan Thompson’s 34 points for world No 1

Though Lang Ping’s side are yet to win a set in Tokyo, there are positives including Zhu Ting’s return to form