Set to host the decisive matches in Bangkok, the Asians will try to have their best campaign in the event, while also pursuing Olympic qualification
Setter Pornpun Guedpard is one of the faces of the Thai team built over the last few years
Guaranteed in the top eight of the Volleyball Nations League 2024 as the host country of the Finals, Thailand will have an excellent opportunity to post their best result in the tournament this year.
While they could use the Preliminary Phase to prepare the team ahead of the Finals in Bangkok, the Asians are still involved in the race to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics and will try to get good results in the first weeks of action to keep their dream alive.
- Sign up to watch the VNL 2024 on VBTV until May 9 with the code ‘Early25’ to get 25% off or until May 13 with the code ‘Early10’ to get 10% off.
Here are important things to know about Thailand for the VNL 2024:
The background
This season will mark just the second time that Thailand appears in the VNL Finals as they qualified in 2022, but lost in the quarterfinals, finishing eighth. In the other four editions, the Thais finished within the same range, ranking 12th in 2019, 14th in 2023, 15th in 2018 and 16th in 2021.
Thailand had to rebuild their team following the international retirement of the country’s legendary ‘Fab Five’ at the VNL 2021 and they were able to establish an interesting core over the last three years. Pornpun Guedpard has emerged as the team’s starting setter and pulls the strings of the team’s offense. The scoring efforts are split between opposite Pimpichaya Kokram and outside hitters Ajcharaporn Kongyot and Chatchu-On Moksri, who was the MVP in their victory at the Asian Championship in 2023. Hattaya Bamrungsuk and captain Thatdao Nuekjang have been steady presences in the middle while Piyanut Pannoy established herself at libero.
Player to watch
Wipawee Srithong has a difficult task in hand fighting for a starting spot with Ajcharaporn and Chatchu-On at outside hitter, but she has shown on some occasions that she’ll be ready to help when the team needs her. A very technical player, Wipawee can score against some of the top teams in the world despite standing at just 1.74m as she showed with an 18-point performance against Canada in the VNL 2023 and the same output against Poland in the Volleyball Olympic Qualifier.
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