Wu Mengjie (left) and Guo Zhongnan (right) exchange a high-five during the women's volleyball final at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya on Sept 22. [Photo/VCG]

China swept host Japan 3-0 on Sept 22 to retain the women's volleyball title at the 20th Asian Games, with Nantong players Wu Mengjie and Guo Zhongnan playing key roles.

The 25-19, 25-20, 25-23 win gave China a third straight Asian Games crown and its 10th women's volleyball gold at the Games. It was Nantong's second gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Wu is a 24-year-old outside hitter from Tongzhou district who has proven to be a reliable player. Standing at 1.90 meters tall, she consistently broke through Japan's defense and contributed significantly in reception and backcourt defense. She joined the provincial team in 2019 and became a member of the national team in 2022. Her performance helped her become a key player after winning in Hangzhou and gaining Olympic experience in Paris.

Guo, a 17-year-old middle blocker from Haimen district, made her senior debut for China at the Asian Games in Nagoya. She effectively blocked Japan's rapid attacks and scored points from the middle position, demonstrating maturity beyond her years. In 2024, she was also a member of China's U17 team that won the world championship.

Both were discovered by coach Gao Feng at the Nantong Sports School, underscoring the city's integrated approach to sports and education. Nantong's volleyball tradition dates back to Zhang Jieyun's World Cup title in 1981. The Nagoya victory added another chapter.