Spikers take aim at World Championships berth
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National coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai leads his team into final Asian qualifying today, confident they can secure a place in the 2014 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship in Italy.
Thailand’s women’s spikers, world No 12 and last year’s AVC Cup winners, open their Pool A campaign today against Australia at Park Arena in Nagoya, Japan – the same venue where they beat hosts Japan 3-2 in last year’s World Grand Prix Preliminaries.
Five Group A qualifiers – Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Taiwan and co-hosts Japan – are competing in the single round-robin tournament for two berths in next year’s Italy Finals.
Co-hosts China, South Korea, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and India are in China-based Pool B, fighting for the other two final berths from September 27 to October 1. The top four Asian sides from qualifying will test their mettle in the Italy meet.
Thailand face world No 103 Australia in today’s curtain-raiser at 2pm (Bangkok time), before a rest day tomorrow then a clash with No 28 Taiwan on Friday at 2pm.
On Saturday, Thailand take on the SEA Games arch-rivals Vietnam at 2pm, then end their tournament on Sunday (11.30am) against Japan, world No 3 and bronze medallists at last year’s Olympics. Channel 3 will televise all the Thai matches live.
“Our mission is not that difficult this time. Since the recent World Grand Prix, my players have had enough time to train together. We have learned a lot about the mistakes we made in the Grand Prix. We are improving tactically and technically in leaps and bounds,” coach Kiattipong said.
“Hosts Japan are our strongest rivals. We lost to the Japanese at last month’s World Grand Prix in Turkey, where they showed excellent teamwork and form. Beating them will not be easy, but we have to try.”
The starting line-up for their opening clash against Australia will remain unchanged, said Kiattipong, with experienced veterans Wilavan Apinyapong, Nootsara Tomkom, Onuma Sittirak, Pleumjit Thinkaow and Malika Kanthong. Rising stars such as Tatdao Nuekjang and Atcharaporn Kongyot will also be given a chance to prove themselves.
Hosts Italy and 23 qualified teams – four teams from Asia, two teams from Africa, nine teams from Europe, two teams from South America and six teams from Norceca (North, Central America and the Caribbean) – will compete in the Italy Finals.
Elsewhere, the Thailand men’s volleyball team leave for Canberra, Australia tonight to take part in the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship Qualification Asian Zone Final Round Pool A from Friday to Monday.
Hosts Australia, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Kuwait will vie for the lone ticket for next year’s 24-team Finals in Poland.
