Spikers arrive to defend Games titles

The men, who stunned hosts Indonesia in straight games in Palembang two years ago, are bidding for their fifth SEA Games gold. They can expect a strong challenge from arch-rivals and 10-time winners Indonesia, Vietnam and hosts Myanmar, who last won the gold 30 years ago. However, on current form, Thailand, sixth in the Asian Championship and world No 34, remain the strongest team in the Games.

The Thai women’s team, meanwhile, are looking to claim their seventh gold in a row to make it 15 in total. The Asian champions and world No 12 are unbeaten in the SEA Games since 1993 in Singapore, when they lost the final to the Philippines.

Travelling to Myanmar is the same “A” team that won the Asian Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima this year. Seven players left yesterday, while the remaining five – Pleumjit Thinkaow, Wilavan Apinyapong, Onuma Sittirak, Nootsara Tomkom and Wanna Buakaew – will join the team on Friday after completing duties in the Azerbaijan Super League.

“We are ready for the Games. For the opening match I will field young players in place of seniors in the starting line-up. I don’t think we will have any problems,” said Thai head coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai ahead of the team’s departure.

“Winning the gold is our only goal. We are fielding our strongest players because we are playing for the pride of the country. Every gold medal counts in deciding the overall SEA Games crown. We can’t underestimate any team in the Games, particularly Vietnam, who we’ve played in six successive finals,” he said.

On the men’s side, defending champions Thailand are in Group A along with Cambodia, Malaysia and hosts Myanmar. Group B comprises Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The group round-robin preliminaries will start on Friday, with Thailand opening their campaign against Malaysia. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals.

In the women’s competition, title-holders Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia will play round-robin preliminaries to decide the two teams who will battle it out for the gold medal.

The Thai women will play Malaysia in their opening match on Saturday.

Each Thai gold medallist will receive Bt200,000 from the National Sports Development Fund, with sponsors ThaiBev adding Bt500,000 to that bonus. 

 

 

Medals tally

Country G S B

Myanmar 16 6 7

Vietnam 7 4 6

Indonesia 4 8 7

Thailand 4 6 3

Malaysia 3 5 12

Philippines 3 4 3

Singapore 2 2 3

Laos 1 2 8

Brunei 1 0 0

Cambodia 0 4 5

TimorLeste 0 0 0

Note: Last updated: 5pm, Dec 10