Thailand Women's Volleyball

[bon-nirnam]

With the declining of Thailand Boxing program that at one time a dominent force of the continent, a steady but less popularity for top notch short distance running due to lack of media exposure and the going nowhere of football development in the Kingdom, Women's Volleyball had finally drawn full attention of the Nation in 2009 when the Thai ladies for the first time in history had capture the continent top award. They did so by trashing two highly ranked Japan and China. It made a good attention grabbing to have the headline such as 'Thailand Schocked Reigning Champ'. The truth is Thailand Women's Volleyball in 2009 were very good. They have beaten Japan and China to capture the equivalence of Asian Champoin League earlier in that year. Then beat the US before traveled to defeat another World's top rank Poland, in Poland ahead of 2009 Asian Championship. What made Thailand Women's Volleyball rises to their current level was '20 years plan' that began in 1983. It is something football commune can't vitualize.

[charade_2010]

I find some young players like Wanitchaya Luangtonglang , Anongporn Promrat , Karina , Watsana , Soraya Phomla ... are ready to replace their sisters next few years .

[bon-nirnam]

Yes, some of the younger players are also playing for colleges in the Philippines. If the program don't lose sight of bringing in the new players before older generation decline too far, Thailand Women's Volleyball could maintain its quality as did the Kingdom's Tracks(100m and 200m sprint) programme. The current women's senior are really lovely as they often exchange fun comments on each others and with fans on their facebook pages. Even Pleumjit's mum joins in on occasions. 

[charade_2010]

Yes, some of the younger players are also playing for colleges in the Philippines. If the program don't lose sight of bringing in the new players before older generation decline too far, Thailand Women's Volleyball could maintain its quality as did the Kingdom's Tracks(100m and 200m sprint) programme. The current women's senior are really lovely as they often exchange fun comments on each others and with fans on their facebook pages. Even Pleumjit's mum joins in on occasions. 

However , physical strength and height are desperate factors . That’s why despite their efforts , Thailand often lose the giants ( China , Japan , Korea … ) although they spare experience ! 

[bon-nirnam]

Interestingly, height is not the true measure of Volleyball. By height average: 1.South Korea 184cm. 2.China-180cm. 3.Thailannd-177cm. and 4.Japan-176cm. South Korea despite the average of taller and bigger by nature had a hard time staying higher than #4. Thai women are known to have excellent mental game as acknowledge by several Tekwando coaches. This make their defensive game really good. But unless you can jump as high as Onuma, attacking game will always shaky. HOWEVER' Peru was THE top notch at some point in the past and their everage hight was shorter than Thai Women.

[charade_2010]

Thailand is a paradise for volleyball

When the International Volleyball Federation gave the country the green light to host two preliminary rounds of the FIVB World Grand Prix this August - assembling some of the world's heavyweights including Brazil, Russia and Cuba - it was proof that volleyball players consider Thailand a playing paradise .

If there is one sport that has attracted a large number of foreign players to Thailand, it is volleyball. The country has hosted several international beach and indoor competitions every year. The players enjoy the natural beauty of the country and also compete with plenty of enthusiasm because they feel completely at home.

In addition to the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour - held annually in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla - and the Pentangle Promotions-organised World Tour in Phuket, the Thailand Volleyball Association has always got the nod from the FIVB and Asian Volleyball Confederation to host crucial tournaments.

Regarding the World Grand Prix, which was started in 1993 as part of the FIVB's marketing strategy to promote volleyball by conducting international competitions, Thailand normally gets a chance to host it once a year. However, the women's premier volleyball competition was not allotted to Thailand this time.

However on Thursday the FIVB named the country to stage two preliminary rounds in August. Nakhon Pathom will host the Group B meet from August 5 to 7 with Thailand pitted against three-time Olympic champions Cuba, current and two-time world champions Russia and Peru.

The Bangkok leg last year drew more than 7,000 spectators to the Keelawes 1 Gymnasium inside the Thai-Japan Youth Welfare Centre. The place gets another opportunity to stage the Group K preliminary round tournament from August 19 to 21, with Asian winners Thailand challenging current Olympic Games champions Brazil, Cuba and Argentina.

The good news delighted the fans, whose enthusiasm has reached a fever pitch. Hundreds of fan club members exchanged comments on the web board on Thursday, the day they learned about the FIVB's announcement.

From my point of view, volleyball, considering the number of people who watch tournaments at various venues, is one of most popular sports in Thailand. Many provinces, including Bangkok, Suphan Buri, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Ratchasima, have standard gymnasiums to host international tournaments and got thumbs-up from the FIVB, which passed the venues after inspecting them with a fine-tooth comb. Even the restive landlocked province of Yala in the South used to be a battleground of the World Grand Prix.

Furthermore, several Thais have been working closely with the FIVB and the AVC - including Shanrit Wongprasert, the AVC's vice president and an FIVB technical delegate, and FIVB referee delegate Songsak Charoenpong - to make volleyball one of the fastest improving sports in Thailand and Asia.

Volleyball development is greatly encouraged in Thailand, while international skill development courses and progressive seminars have been occasionally organised by the FIVB in the country.

Thailand has already gained great benefits from hosting major volleyball tournaments, including world youth and junior championships, Asian championships, Olympic qualification tournaments and World Grand Prix, but still has more work to do to make these tournaments attractive to spectators, not just for players .

[bon-nirnam]

A great article! As for Internation volleyball players feel right at home, it is a good anidote but I would think that the attraction would rather be uniqueness of peeceived peaceful exotic (opposite to at home). Nakhorn Si Thammarath is a good example, while the water is warm to the delight of visitors there is some issue for athletes. If you use to the thin air of Korat, Buriram or Sri Sa Ket, the are would be a bit too heavey to breath. Combine that with the feeling of heavy moisture on your skin.. Yikes! I recall having a hard time breathing both in the north-east as well as in the south in different ways. As for Volleyball in Thailand, women in particular, they have evolved into a very positive subculture of their own with players and fans are admirably in a close friendly communication. Nootsara for example, her fanclub have just introduce 13FC T-shirt signifying number 13 of their idol. Visiting any of Thailand Women Volleyball individual facebook and request to be friends you will be greacefully accpt