China took a crucial step towards retaining their title when they edged arch-rivals South Korea in a five-set thriller in the Asian Women's Championship at a full-house Queen Elizabeth Stadium last night.
The group win was significant for the Chinese because they need only to play Group A winners Japan and second-placed Thailand in the championship stage which features round-robin matches between the top four teams.
The complicated format sees results between teams in the group stage being carried to the championship phase. It means that China will not have to play South Korea again.
It means the Chinese should have little problem in registering their seventh straight championship triumph as they have regularly beaten Japan and Thailand down the years.
But it was South Korea - conquerors of China in the 1994 Asian Games final and last year's World Championship - who gave them a scare last night.
China eventually ran out 31-29, 19-25, 21-25, 25-23, 22-20 winners.
Chinese coach Hu Jin said his team's inability to perform to their full potential had resulted in such a close match.