Vietnam wins AVC Challenge Cup, secures FIVB Challenger Cup spot

Defending champion Vietnam secured their place in the AVC Challenge Cup finals with a decisive win over Kazakhstan, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 on Wednesday evening at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Despite the absence of injured star Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen led Vietnam with 26 points and was named MVP for her outstanding performance in the final match.

Vietnam won all six matches to sweep the 15th edition of the AVC Challenge Cup in Manila, securing their spot in the FIVB Challenger Cup qualifier from July 4 to 7.

Kazakhstan finished second while Alas Pilipinas secured a historic bronze medal - the team's best finish in any AVC tournament in 63 years.

The victory marks Vietnam’s consecutive success after winning the previous year's edition, where they triumphed over Indonesia in a thrilling reverse sweep.