Bangkok was the scene of a breathtaking final at the Women's World Championship, with Italy taking on Turkey.
The Azzurri, reigning Olympic champions and undefeated for 35 matches, faced the 2023 European champion team in a match that lived up to the highest expectations.
In pursuit of a title that had been missing since 2002, the team led by Velasco fought with courage and determination. After five intense sets, the Italian women won the gold medal with a hard-fought but fully deserved victory, finishing 25-23, 13-25, 26-24, 19-25, 15-8.
First set in the bag
The start of the set was immediately balanced. Anna Danesi put Italy ahead with the first point, but Turkey responded immediately with Melissa Vargas and Ebrar Karakurt, finding winning diagonal and parallel lines.
No fear, however, for the Azzurri: Miryam Sylla and Paola Egonu alternated shots of power and precision, keeping the national team constantly in the lead.
In the middle phase, the set turned into a confrontation of strategies and defences. The exchanges became longer, and Stella Nervini distinguished herself with decisive interventions.
At 22-22, the first act of the final began to heat up. Turkey served with precision, but Italy responded, being present at the most delicate moment.
The decisive set-point came at 24-22. Egonu tried to break through with a powerful spike, then Nervini closed the exchange out 25-23.
Ups and downs for the Azzurri
The second set, however, turned into a nightmare for Italy. After an immediately problematic start, with the Turks incisive on the diagonal and at the wall, the Azzurri struggled to find rhythm and continuity.
Velasco reacted with a double change and a heated timeout, but the national team was unable to turn the tide.
The Turks maintained constant pressure and rhythm, exploiting every flaw, and closed it out 25-13, putting the final back in the balance.
Only a small scare for the Azzurri, who resumed playing with focus in the third set, while being guarded by the Turkish centre ball and the power of star player Vargas, with a monstrous offensive efficiency.
The third act of the match turned into a duel of nerves. Turkey held out three set-points, but Italy responded with perfect defence and incisive attacks by Egonu and Sylla.
At 24-24, Velasco stopped the game with a strategic timeout; upon returning to the court, Egonu closed with an ace, making it 26-24 and thus 2-1 for the Azzurri.
The fourth set, however, saw Turkey rearing its head again, despite the relentless efforts of the girls led by Velasco.
The Azzurri tried to stay in the match with Sylla and Egonu, but Vargas' winning strokes and aces dug an unbridgeable gap. Despite some key points from Egonu and Gaia Giovannini, Italy lost 25-19, sending everything to the tie-break.
Title decided in the tie-break
Highs and lows, mixed emotions and a thread of anxiety ran through the Bangkok final. But at the decisive moment, Italy brought out the best in themselves: impassable walls, perfect defence, and the ability to nullify even the devastating Vargas.
With a tie-break played like champions, the Azzurri dominated 15-8 and took back the crown of the world, writing another unforgettable page in their history.