Bangkok, Thailand, March 25 – 2005 – The Thailand women’s Volleyball squad will gather in Bangkok after the completion of the Thailand V-League on April 8 to start preparing for the 2006 Women’s World Championship first round tournament (Asia Pool B), which will held in Suphan Buri, a Thailand province 100 kilometres from the capital city of Bangkok, from August 17-21.

The training camp in Bangkok is part of a long build up to what many see in Thailand as one of the biggest Volleyball events of the year and coach Nutthapol Srisamutnak is desperate not to leave any stones unturned, hence the early start.

Key players such as Patcharee Saengmuang and Pluemjitr Thinkhao, who play in the professional league in Russia, and main spiker Piyamas Koyjapoh, who is now playing in the Vietnamese League, are due to return to Thailand at the end of March, completing what should be a very strong Thailand squad.

“Upon their return, I think they can become a major force in the team,” Srisamutnak said. “They will carry with them the good experience of playing with much taller rivals. They will teach their team mates how to play a better game with the taller players. It will be a great asset.

“Apart from those experienced older players, I will also need to include some young talent, especially some national juniors who shone during the recently completed Asian Women’s Junior Championship and the Princess Cup.”

Thailand will be joined by Korea, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and Tonga in the first round tournament (Asia Pool B), where the top two teams will advance to the final round in Japan.

From Preechachan Wiriyanupappong
AVC's South East Asian Zone Press Officer