Of the 12 finalists on the Thai women's volleyball team for the Hangzhou Asian Games, only 8 are from overseas.
Thailand, ranked 13th in the world rankings of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), successfully advanced to the quarterfinals through the group stage at the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. Thailand, ranked first in Group B in the group stage, is scheduled to compete with Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Kazakhstan in Group F of the quarterfinal round for a ticket to the semifinals.
Thailand's women's volleyball's best result in the Asian Games was second place in 2018. Thailand, which reached the top spot at this year's Asian Championships for the first time in 10 years, will challenge for its first gold medal in Asian Games history despite being rejected. As Japan enters the tournament with second-tier players, the home team China is considered the strongest candidate for the championship.
Among them, 8 out of 12 Thai women's volleyball players who participated in the Asian Games are overseas. Five people will play in the Japanese V.League and three will play in the Korean V-League.
First, the Thailand national team's starting outside heaters Chatchuon Moxri and Acharaporn Kongyot will wear Victorina Himeji and NEC Red Rockets uniforms, respectively. The 180cm Chatchuon, born in 1999, also lived abroad for the first time in Japan in 2018, and spent two years in Turkye Sariyer alongside Acharaporn in 2021. Playing in the Japanese V.League again after 5 years. However, Victorina Himeji is a team that was relegated to the second division this year. Acharaporn, a 180cm outside heater born in 1995, spent two seasons in Turkiye in 2021 after advancing to Indonesia in 2018, and took on a new challenge in Japan in the 2023-24 season.
Thai middle blockers are also actively advancing overseas. Born in 1994, the 185cm That Dao Nukjang has been wearing the Japanese JT Marvelous uniform since the 2020-21 season, but has moved to Hitachi Astemo Revale starting this year, making a new start. Another veteran middle blocker, Hataya Bamrulsuk, will also continue his career as a player in Japan. Hataya, a 180cm middle blocker born in 1993, has renewed his contract with Japanese Toyota Auto Body Quincees, with whom he has been working since 2021.
Thailand national team member Pimpichaya Kokram is a 180cm Apogee born in 1998 and enters his third season wearing the uniform of Kurobe Aqua Fairies, a member of the Japanese V. League 1st division.
The Korean V-League also succeeded in recruiting three Thai national team members by introducing the Asian quota starting this year, following Japan's lead. Thailand's starting setter Ponpun Gedpard was nominated by IBK Industrial Bank as the first overall pick, and outside heater Wipai Sitong is scheduled to play in the V-League as a member of Hyundai Engineering & Construction. Thanacha, 토토사이트랭크 who is competing against Pimpichaya, is taking on a new challenge after being nominated by the Korea Expressway Corporation as the 'defending champion.'
Within Asia, following China (#6) and Japan (#9), Thailand, Kazakhstan (32nd), Vietnam (39th), and Korea are ranked 40th. There is also strong interest in Thai players through the Asia Quarter.