In the ongoing Asian U18 Men's Volleyball Championship in China, the Taiwan team lost 0-3 to Japan in the semifinals on the 17th, missing out on the final. Taiwan will face host China on the 18th to compete for third place.

Led by main attackers Chang Wei-hsiu and Weng Yu-sheng, the Taiwan U18 men's volleyball team defeated Thailand 3-1 in the quarterfinals yesterday, reaching the final four for the first time in eight years and securing a ticket to next year's U19 World Championship. However, they lost 0-3 to a strong Japanese team in the semifinals today.

Facing a tall Japanese team, Taiwan showed resilience in the first set, even holding a set point. However, failing to score the crucial points, they were forced into a deuce and eventually lost 24-26. In the second set, Taiwan struggled in the middle phase, losing 16-25. In the third set, with no room for error, they were unable to regain their rhythm and lost 19-25.

Though they cannot compete for the title, the Taiwan team will play host China on the evening of the 18th. The two teams faced off in the group stage, where Taiwan staged a "reverse 3-2" comeback from two sets down. They hope to replicate such a miracle.

Coach Chen Chao-kai mentioned in an interview, "These players are willing to learn, pay the price, and possess team spirit. When facing difficulties, they don't think only of themselves; they encourage and support each other." Having already qualified for the U19 World Championship, he hopes the players will face their opponents with full effort and enjoy the game without any burden, leaving no regrets.