17 top teams for PTT Phuket Thailand open
Seventeen of the world's top 20-ranked teams have confirmed their participation in the PTT Phuket Thailand Open, the final round of the FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour, which will take place on Karon Beach, Phuket, from November 1 to 6.
Among the elite pairings are the current world champions and world No 1 Franca Larissa and Felisberta Da Silva Juliana of Brazil. Winning the 2011 World Championship in Rome, the formidable duo have also captured gold medals in five other tournaments this year.
Their closest rivals are likely to be the reigning and two-time Olympic champions Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh of the US, who are occupying the No 2 spot in the world rankings. Asia's leading team, the Guangzhou Asian Games gold medallists Chinese Chen Xue and Zhang Xi are holding the third place in the rankings. Other notable entries in the star-studded tournament are last year's runners-up Italians Greta Cicolari and Marta Meneqatta and the third-placed finishers Salqado Rufino Maria Clara and Solberg Salqado Carolina of Brazil.
Although only 17 of the world's top 20-ranked teams have entered the tournament, the total number of teams entering the tournament is likely to exceed last year's record of 70 teams by close of entries at the end of this month.
To date, 32 countries have already submitted their entries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, the US and Thailand.
Thailand, as the host country, have been allowed three automatic slots in the main draw and two corresponding number of places in the qualification matches.
There will be a live TV broadcast nationally and internationally to over 700 million households worldwide from 3pm-5pm of the two semi-final matches on November 5 and the third-place play-off and the final showdown on November 6.
"According to the data we'd compiled last year, around 20,000 spectators watched the matches in the six-day tournament at the competition venue on Karon Beach. Among them were 5,000 Thais. During the competition, an approximate Bt350 million has been spent in Phuket which helped promote tourism in Phuket and Thailand alike," said Wiwatchai Boonyapak, executive director, Events Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand.
"The participating teams will vie for the top honours and US$190,000 cash prize. Only China and Thailand have been chosen as the two host countries in Asia. I hope this tournament will run smoothly and be a memorable success as in the past five years," said Geoffrey Rowe, managing director, Pentangle Promotions, and Tournament Director.
