Thai women's volleyball team lacks players

Having too many athletes competing abroad is causing trouble for the Thai women's volleyball team as the 33rd SEA Games is approaching.

Thai women's volleyball team still has a serious shortage of players even though SEA Games 33 is near - Photo: FIVB

Shortage of troops due to competition abroad

About a month has passed, the Thai team has had a training session for the 33rd SEA Games taking place at home. But in reality, coach Kiattipong Rachatakeangkrai is always in a state of serious shortage of players.

The reason is that most of Thailand's key athletes are competing abroad and cannot return to the team.

Only recently, two athletes Piyanut Pannoy and Pornpun Guedpard (playing in the US) were able to return home to participate in training. The rest, Thatdao Nuekjang, Hattaya Bamrungsuk, Natthanicha Jaisaen, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Chatchu-on Moksri, Wimonrat Thanapan (Japan) or Pimpichaya Kokram (Netherlands) are still nowhere to be seen.

Besides, two strikers Donphon Sinpho and Wipawee Srithong will almost certainly miss the SEA Games due to injury.

According to Mr. Somporn Usibangyang, President of the Thai Volleyball Federation, the Thai women's team will have enough players to practice by early December at the earliest. This means the whole team will have less than 2 weeks to assemble the squad and tactics.

"The Federation has arranged for young athletes to participate in this training session. They will act as temporary replacements in tactical and physical training sessions while the team waits for enough players. This is also part of the plan to develop athletes for the future," Mr. Somporn emphasized.

Challenges from Vietnamese girls

Having just returned home after experiencing the training and competition environment in the US, libero Piyanut Pannoy commented: "Coming to the US has given me very good conditions to develop and helped me accumulate important experiences. Now, my teammates and I have to learn to adapt quickly when there is not much time left to prepare for the SEA Games."

At the 33rd SEA Games, host Thailand is in Group A with the Philippines and Singapore. Previously, this group also included Cambodia, but this team decided to withdraw. With the strength of the number 1 team in Southeast Asia, the Thai women's volleyball team is sure to advance to the semi-finals, even the final. Their biggest worry now is the Vietnamese women's volleyball team - the team also aiming for a gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games.

Since 1995, the women's volleyball championship in the regional arena has never escaped the hands of the Thai team. This time, playing at home, they are even more determined to step up to the highest podium.

But in 2025, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team also showed significant progress. The most notable achievement was winning the SEA V.League - a tournament that Thailand had never lost before.

Not having enough players even though the SEA Games is near is certainly a difficult problem for coach Kiattipong, especially when their No. 1 position has never been challenged as much as this year.

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DUC KHUE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bong-chuyen-nu-thai-lan-thieu-hut-quan-so-20251202103438431.htm