Thailand fight very hard but get kayoed by Japan

Despite the disappointing defeat, Thailand have qualified for the World Championship Finals in Italy next year along with Pool A winners Japan due to their wins over Vietnam and Australia earlier in the week.

The top two teams of Pool A and two other Asian nations from Pool B will join hosts Italy and 19 teams from other continents in the Finals which will be played next year. The Pool B matches will be held in China from September 27 to October 1. 

Thailand fielded a strong line-up, spearheaded by attackers Onuma Sittirak and Pleumjit Thinkaow, against Japan. The hosts surprisingly rested their two powerful attackers Saori Kimura and Yukiko Ebata and instead fielded devastating left-hander Miyu Nagaoka.

Both sides started well in the first game, entertaining a large crowd at the venue with their skills. The lead changed hands several times until Thailand started to make unforced errors with their serves, allowing the Japanese attacking opportunities. Japan took the hard-fought first game 25-23.

The second game went along a similar script. The going got tough for both teams as they were tactically and technically brilliant. Thailand led 16-14. However, Japan raised their performance a notch higher and claimed the game 25-21.

Japan maintained their exceptional performance, while Thai nerves began to fray. Japan won the totally one-sided game 25-10 and the match. With the win, Japan got 12 points to reign supreme in Pool A. They were followed by Thailand with 9 points. Vietnam, Taiwan and Australia finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.

“We played well in the first two sets, but it was a very disappointing show in the third set. My players made too many unforced mistakes. Their serves were very poor, while the first-ball reception did not live up to staff coaches’ expectations,” Thai head coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai said.

 “After we return, we will train much harder to correct the mistakes we made in this tournament. Japan were in great form. Even without Saori and Ebata, their offence was strong. Their defence kept our attacking spikers busy the entire night. Next week, we will play in the Asian Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima. I think it will be much tougher out there. We have to prepare much better than this to play well before our home fans.”

Meanwhile, the Thai men’s volleyball team lost to hosts Australia 25-23 25-13 25-23 in their last match of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship Qualification Asian Zone Pool A at the AIS Arena in Canberra, Australia yesterday. The loss dashed the Thai dreams of making it to next year’s Finals in Poland. 

Australia emerged as the Pool A winners to grab the lone ticket for the Finals. Kazakhstan finished second, while Thailand and Kuwait came in third and fourth respectively.