HANOI, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China lost 3-0 to Japan at the Asian Women's U19 Volleyball Championship which kicked off on Sunday in Vietnam's northern Bac Ninh province.

Defending champions China lost to Japan with final scores of 16-25, 22-25 and 13-25. Meanwhile, hosts Vietnam were beaten 3-1 by Thailand (26-24, 21-25, 17-25, 21-25).

Also on Sunday, Kazakhstan beat India 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 27-25) and South Korea lost 3-2 to Chinese Taipei (17-25, 17-25, 25-22, 25-15, 13-15).

On the same day, Iran beat China's Hong Kong 3-1 with the scores of 19-25, 25-13, 25-18 and 25-18, and Australia defeated China's Macao with the scores of 25-19, 18-25, 25-18 and 25-13.

The 2018 Asian Women's U19 Volleyball Championship is being held from June 10 to 17 featuring 16 teams. Defending champions China are in Group

A along with Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. Group B consists of South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan and India. Group C includes China's two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, Australia and Iran; and Group D has Malaysia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.

At the previous championship in 2016 in Thailand, China finished first, followed by Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Asian Women's U19 Volleyball Championship is a biennial volleyball competition in Asia and Oceania contested by the U19 women's teams of the members of Asian Volleyball Confederation. It has been held since 1980.