China defeated Belarus 3-1 at the third International Women's Volleyball Tournament, which started in Vietnam on Monday.

The China's Tianjin Nankai team won the first set 25-19 before Belarus leveled it with 25-22. The Chinese players won the 3rd and 4th sets with respective scores of 25-23 and 25-18.

In other matches on the same day, China's Sichuan team whitewashed Thailand 25-19, 25-16, and 25-13 while Ukraine crushed Sri Lanka 26-24, 25-17, and 25-20. Hosts Vietnam clinched their first triumph over Indonesia 25-9, 25-10, and 25-20.

The seven-day tournament, taking place in Vietnam's northern Vinh Phuc province, features eight teams from China, Thailand, Belarus, Ukraine, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The champion will get a cash prize of 5,000 US dollars.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2006)