Thai spikers face tough Russian challenge at worlds

The world meet will take place in six cities in Italy from September 13 to October 12, with 24 qualified teams vying for the top honour and the coveted trophy.

A total of 18 teams have already booked their places in the World Championship – four from Asia, 10 from Europe (including hosts Italy) and two apiece from South America and Africa. The remaining six teams will come from the Norceca zone due to be held in May.

The qualified 24 teams have been divided into four pools of six. Hosts Italy, Germany, Argentina, Croatia, Tunisia and Norceca 2 are in Pool A, while Olympic winners and world No 1 Brazil, Serbia, Turkey, Cameroon, Bulgaria and Norceca 4 are in Pool B. Pool C consists of reigning world champions Russia, Asian champions and AVC Cup winners Thailand, the Netherlands, Asian Games silver medallists Kazakhstan, Norceca 1 and Norceca 6, while Pool D has Japan, China, Norceca 3, Norceca 5, Belgium and Azerbaijan.

With the top four teams after the pool round-robin preliminaries advancing to the second round, Thailand’s chances remain bright.

“World No 2 the US are likely to be the Norceca 1 team, while either Canada or Mexico can emerge as the Norceca 6. If so, I’m very upbeat that Thailand stand a chance of finishing in the top four in Pool C, which will carry us to the second round,” said Shanrit Wongprasert, director of the Volleyball Association of Thailand and an executive member of the world volleyball’s governing body FIVB.

“Russia should be the strongest in our pool, but we have already beaten them last year in the World Grand Champions Cup in Japan, while we almost beat the US in that tournament, going down in a close five-set match. The Netherlands and Kazakhstan are also formidable, but we have also beaten them. Even though we can’t send our strongest line-up to the world meet as it clashes with the Asian Games in South Korea, I’m still confident our team will have enough potential to beat the best sides. Our initial target of advancing to the second round remains, something that is within our reach,” a confident Shanrit added.

As the World Championship in Italy will take place in the same month as the Asian Games in South Korea, the Thai squad will be split into two teams. Those regarded as the strongest six players in the team were said to be given a chance to chase the Thai dream of winning the Asian Games gold for the first time in history.

“We now have 12-13 players in the national team, including five playing in the Azerbaijan League. Many potential young players were asked to join the national camp and they have already started long-term training. Shortly after the five players in Azerbaijan return, they will join the camp for intensive training. The big team will then be split into two groups, with the most experienced players going to South Korea for the Asian Games. The remaining will leave for the world meet in Italy. We have never finished in the top three in the Asian Games and our hope of capturing an unprecedented gold are very bright this time,” Shanrit said.

Thailand’s best effort in three attempts at the worlds was a 13th-place finish four years ago in Japan.