Thailand kicked off their title defence in the 3rd Southeast Asian Women’s Volleyball League with a hard-fought straight-set win against Indonesia, as hosts Vietnam delighted a huge crowd of home fans inside the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium with a dramatic 3-1 victory against Philippines on Friday.
Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam are strutting their stuff in the first leg of a two-legged volleyball tournament, vying for top honor and cash prizes. The first leg is now underway in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam between August 4 and 6, with the second leg taking place at the 3,000-seater gymnasium inside the 700th Anniversary Chiang Mai Sports Complex in Chiang Mai, a northern city in Thailand from August 11 to 13.
Thailand, current world No.15 and consecutive two-time Asian silver medallists, overcame a strong Indonesia, which posed stiff challenges throughout the whole match, to power past the lower-ranked opponents in closely-contested three-setter 26-24, 26-24, 25-20.
Vietnam, which had captured the 2023 AVC Challenge Cup and the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Championship under the Sport Center 1’s banner to their name, also made their mark on the opening day of the single round-robin tournament to pull off dramatic 3-1 (25-15, 19-25, 25-21, 25-9) win against Philippines.
Thailand had a well-constructed roster in Vinh Phuc, making them the strongest contender for the first leg title. The team include Ajcharaporn Kongyot and Chatchu-On Moksri, both of whom competed professionally in Turkish League in the previous season, Pimpichaya Kokram, Thanacha Sooksod, Thatdao Nuekjang and Jarasporn Bandasak, four of them played in Japan V. League and setter Pornpun Guedpard joined CS Rapid Bucuresti in Romania.
In the other hand, Indonesia, current world No.58 which picked up silver medal in the recent AVC Challenge Cup on home soil, sent a well-trained team whose most players competed in domestic league in the previous season. Interestingly, the Indonesians are playing in the first leg in Vinh Phuc without Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi. The 185cm-tall key player had contributed highest scores and steered Indonesia to stunning five-set win in the semifinal clash against Vietnam in the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Malaysia, helping the Indonesians qualify for the final showdown for the first time in 26 years.
Intent on allowing his players opportunities to sharpen their skill in their preparation for three major competitions later this year including the 22nd…
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