Thais conquer Japan to win title

The Thai team, ranked No 13 in the world, included six of their starting line-up that won their historic Asian crown in 2009 in Hanoi. These included powerful attacker Onuma Sittirak, Wilavan Apinyapong and Pleumjit Thinkaow. 

Japan, silver medallists at the London Games and former three-time Asian winners, fielded star spikers Saori Kimura and Miyu Nagaoka.

With more than 6,000 home fans cheering them, the Thai ladies performed beyond expectation. They took the first two sets 25-22 25-18 and continued their exceptional form to capture the third 25-17. After the win, the Thai players thanked spectators by giving them a “wai” while prostrating on the floor. They ran to hug one another and all, including coaches, made a circle and danced. Some had tears in their eyes. 

For the victory, ThaiBev gave them Bt1 million as a bonus, and politician Suwat Liptapanlop gave another Bt500,000.

Noosara Tomkom won the Best Setter award while Korat-born Wilavan Apinyapong captured the Most Valuable Player prize.

It was the second Asian title the Thai team had won. Last year, they captured the AVC Cup.

Thailand have already made their mark in this biennial competition, which drew a record 16 teams including debutantes Mongolia and Myanmar, following their stunning 3-2 victory over mighty China, the defending and 12-time winners, in the semi-finals on Friday. 

About 5,200 home fans thronged into the Chatchai Hall in Nakhom Ratchasima to witness the team’s resounding success. As a result, demand for tickets to watch the Thai spikers yesterday soared. Only 4,800 tickets for seats plus 400 for people to stand could be sold. 

Some locals were so desperate to ensure they would get tickets that they arrived at Chatchai Hall at 2am. By 5am, around 2,000 fans were there, queuing in the rain, before tickets went on sale at 9am.

Just half an hour after the booth opened, all tickets were sold out, leaving several thousand fans having waited for nothing. Upset, they thronged at the iron gate in front of the venue, shouting to officials in charge to release more tickets, but to no avail. 

Despite tight security with police and guards, some fans were moody and tried to break down the gate. But after a talk with provincial officials, they agreed and move to the media room to watch a live broadcast on a big screen. About 400 fans had to draw lots to get standing tickets.