Brazil, Italy claim opening wins at women's volleyball World Championship

Effrosyni Bakodimou (1st R) of Greece competes during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) --Traditional powerhouses including Brazil and Italy claimed opening victories as the women's volleyball World Championship kicked off in various cities in Thailand on Friday.

Brazil, who finished runners-up to Italy in this year's women's Volleyball Nations League, saw off Greece 25-18, 25-16, 25-16 in their Group C opener in Chiang Mai.

Braga Guimaraes Gabriela, known as Gabi, scored a team-high 18 points for Brazil and Julia Isabelle Bergmann added 16.

"It's normal that we were a bit nervous at the beginning, but then we played really good in serve, block and defense and this is the way we have to keep going until the end," said Brazil head coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes.

"Our young players have to improve, get experience to get better and better in the future, this is important for our preparation for the Los Angeles Olympic Games," he added.

In Group C's other contention, France beat Puerto Rico in four sets 25-22, 25-18, 21-25, 25-14.

"It was not easy to enter this competition. In the first set we were struggling to find solution in our attack, and step by step we found our rhythm," said France captain Helena Cazaute. "I think we could be better in the third set. We forgot to play and let them do their job, but (we had) good reaction in the fourth set, so we are really happy about our victory."

Cazaute finished with 21 points for France, who was led by Iman Ndiaye's 22 points.

"For sure we want to go out of the group, now we have to focus against Brazil. We just want to fight and most of all, enjoy," said Cazaute.

Amandha Sylves finished with nine points through four kills and five blocks for France.

"I am trying to do my best and I really think it's a victory of the team. Sylves did great job on blocking today and helped us win this game," Cazaute added.

In Phuke, Paola Ogechi Egonu had 15 points to lift reigning Olympic champion Italy over Slovakia 25-20, 25-14, 25-17 in Group B where Belgium overpowered Cuba 25-23, 25-14, 25-11.

Also on Friday, the Netherlands outlasted Sweden 3-2 and Thailand held off Egypt 3-1 in Group A in Bangkok while the United States beat Slovenia 3-1 and Argentina rallied past Czechia 3-1 in Group D in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The round-robin preliminaries will continue on Saturday with teams from Group E to Group H in action. 32 teams are competing in eight groups with the top two finishers from each group to advance to the knockout stage. ■

Head coach Jose Roberto Guimaraes (1st R) of Brazil talks to players during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

Julia Isabelle Bergmann (R) of Brazil competes during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

Kisy Nascimento (C) of Brazil competes during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

Gabriela Braga Guimaraes (L) of Brazil reacts during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

Diana Duarte Alecrim of Brazil serves during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

Martha Evdokia Anthouli (2nd R) of Greece competes during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

Marcelle de Arruda Mattos da Silva (3rd L) of Brazil claps hands with teammates during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

Gabriela Braga Guimaraes (L) of Brazil competes during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)

Julia Isabelle Bergmann (L) of Brazil competes during the Preliminary Phase Pool C match between Brazil and Greece at the Volleyball Women's World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Hou Zhaokang)