The roar from Bangkok faded. Italy’s women’s volleyball team stood tall, world champions once again. They snatched a thrilling 3-2 victory over Turkey on Sunday, adding another golden chapter to their story in Thailand. This marks their second world title, their first coming back in 2002.
The final match was a true nail-biter. Italy clawed back from a 22-20 deficit in the first set to win it 25-23. Turkey then showed their strength, dominating the second set with a 25-13 win. Italy fought hard for a 26-24 victory in the third, only for Turkey to respond with a 25-19 win in the fourth. It all came down to the deciding fifth set. Italy then unleashed five straight successful plays in that final set, closing it out 15-8. This win stopped Turkey from claiming their first world crown, even though they made history with their first-ever podium finish. Melissa Vargas, who comes from Cuba, was a star for Turkey. She scored a massive 33 points, making her the top scorer of the final.
This victory was Italy’s 36th in a row. They haven’t lost a match since June 2024, when Brazil beat them. Italy is currently on an incredible run of form. They are the Paris 2024 Olympic champions, they won this year’s Nations League, and they sit at the very top of the world rankings.
Behind this amazing success is head coach Julio Velasco. The 73-year-old Argentine made history himself with this win. He became the first coach ever to win both men’s and women’s World Championships. He guided the men’s team to three world titles back in the 1990s.
Meanwhile, Brazil also left Thailand with a medal. They secured third place in the tournament. Brazil overcame Japan in another five-set thriller, winning 3-2. The set scores were 25-12, 25-17, 19-25, 27-29, and a tight 18-16 finish in the decider.