Local hopes rest on trio of Thai teams
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Two home pairings failed to make the cut for today's main draw of the women's Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT at Karon Beach here, the penultimate FIVB Beach Volleyball Open of 2013.
The eight teams that emerged from qualifying yesterday will now do battle in the top-flight six-day tournament, where prize money of nearly US$120,000 is on offer.
Sweden’s Nina Grawender and Karin Lundqvist topped the qualification tournament rankings, with Germany’s Teresa Mersmann and Isabel Schneider second seeds. China’s Yuan Yue and Ma Yuanyuan are third seeds and Americans Lane Carico and Heather Huges fourth seeds.
Thailand fielded two teams – Sirinuch Kawfong/Saowaros Tangkaeo and Ariya Laosaengsa/Kijja Khantarak – in the 24-strong qualifying yesterday.
Under searing sun yesterday, the inexperienced Ariya and Kijja were sent packing 21-11 21-15 in the opening round by Canadians Kacie MacTavish and Caleigh Whitaker. Compatriots Sirinuch and Saowaros succumbed the 21-15 21-13 to Norwegians Janne Kongshavn and Victoria Faye Kjolberg.
Top seeds Granwender and Lundqvist suffered a shock 21-19 21-13 defeat in the crucial second round to 16th seeds Svitlana Baburina and Diana Mulenko of Ukraine. Chinese third seeds Yuan and Ma advanced to the main draw after a 22-20 21-12 victory over Aussies Jordan Mowen and Justine Mowen in the second round.
Also missing the main draw were Japanese fifth seeds Takemi Nishibori and Mizoe Sayaka, who went down 21-16 19-21 12-15 clash to Russian 12th seeds the Makroguzova sisters, Ekaterina and Nadezda.
Hosts Thailand have three pairings in today’s main draw, including world No 40
Varapatsorn Radarong and Tanarattha Udomchavee, who finished an impressive fifth in this year’s World Tour in Russia.
“Since the draw has yet been made, we cannot set any target for this tournament. However, after Varapatsorn and Tanarattha performed well in the Anapa Open in Russia to finish fifth place, I’m upbeat that they are ready for a tournament no matter which team they play,” Thailand’s head coach Petcharaj Putsorn said yesterday.
Thirty-two teams in the main draw will be split into eight pools of four. The team finishing top in each pool will be seeded in the next round, while the second- and third-placed teams will play each other to decide the remaining eight places for the 16-team knockout phase.
This is the eighth successive year that Thailand has staged an Open series women’s event on the FIVB tour.
