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Cash Rewards
Per bangkokpost.com:
Three companies announced they would award a total of 12 million baht to the team in recognition of their impressive performance in Tokyo.
Of the 12-million-baht sponsorship, the beverages company Thai Drinks contributes 10 million while True Corporation and ONE Championship promoter each give one million.
12 million baht = $335,914 US Dollars
No Greater Than A Mother’s Love
The Homecoming
There’s no place like HOME.
Per bangkokpost.com:
The Thai women’s volleyball team returned home on Monday evening from the Olympic qualification tournament to a heartfelt welcome.
The players and coaches arrived on a THAI Airways International flight at Suvarnabhumi airport and received a warm welcome from a huge group of cheering fans, as well as sports authorities, including Somporn Chaybangyang, president of the Volleyball Association of Thailand, and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.
While the Thai team failed to secure a place in the qualifying tournament in Tokyo for the Olympic Games, they won the hearts of Thais for their impressive performance and strong spirits.
Thailand captain Pleumjit Thinkaow said: “We want to bring victory home every time we play. This time we may disappoint [Thais for an Olympic berth) but we aren’t discouraged. In the next four years, younger players will try to make the dream come true for everyone.”
Wilawan Apinyapong, a former captain, said: “On behalf of everyone in the team, I thank all fans for their continued support. Everyone in the team accepts the tournament’s outcome…. We lose together and we win together.”
The Last Embrace(?)
We’d let the video do the talking but this one made us cry AGAIN …
Fake Account Of Referee Maclas
We just want to let the public know that this is a FAKE ACCOUNT of Referee Jerry Maclas who has been getting a lot of hate messages after his controversial calls during the Thailand vs Japan match a few days ago.
STOP THE HATE! STOP THE BULLYING!
Koreans Players With Nootsara
Korean players to the rescue again.
Kim Suji and Kim Yeon Koung were with Thai setter Nootsara the day after her team lost to Japan.
By the looks of it, the girls had a lot of fun.
For Nootsara to have that kind of smile just shows HOW STRONG and HOW OPTIMISTIC she is.
Friendship never ends for these girls.
In case you didn’t know, Kim calls Nootsara one of her best friends.
Everything you Need To Know…
The heartbreaking and controversial defeat against Japan earlier makes Thailand volleyball as the MOST talked about team in the volleyball world as of press time.
Here are the IMPORTANT NEWS AND DETAILS so far.
Watch The Full Match
To give you an idea how intense the match was, we strongly recommend you to watch the entire 5-set marathon between 2 teams fighting for a spot in this year’s Olympic Games.
This FIVB article explains what happens in the 5th:
The match was off to a fifth set, the first five setter of the week, and befitting of the epic duel that had been unfolding for more than two hours.
The fifth set, by any measure, was one of the most incredible sets of volleyball most fans will ever see.
Thailand had the match, and possibly a ticket to Rio, wrapped up at 9-3. But what unfolded next was one of the most amazing self-destructions in sport.
With all the momentum, the Thai team and their coaching bench somehow managed to concoct a way to lose the unlosable set.
The ill-discipline brought with it a heavy price for Thailand; the first red card came when they were leading 12-7. But instead of concentrating on sealing the game, the team became distracted and continued to argue with officials.
The second red card was inevitable; it came when Thailand was trailing 12-13, and virtually gifted the match to Japan.
The Heartbreaking Images
After getting 2 red cards, losing 2 points as well as the match, Thai players could not hide their emotions right after. These images show the heartbreak for the volleyball queens of Southeast Asia.
The Post Match Press Conference
We had to wait until this FIVB post match press conference to get the side of team Thailand.
Thailand coach Radchatagriengkai:
“I would like to thank my players who gave their all tonight. We will give our best in the rest of the matches. These players are my heroines. In my life something like this has never happened. I have been a volleyball coach for 20 years and never saw this.
I asked why the touch panels were not displaying member changes and I asked for a clarification and I was given a red card. Then I asked again why the tablets were not displaying the members and got the second red card. It was very unfair to the Thai team.
We play with sportsmanship. This judgment was not right. The match is over now and we have to accept the result The system should be reconsidered. We could not change players even though my players were in the changing area.”
Thailand captain Thinkaow Pleumjit:
“I think this match will be memorable. Both teams showed great performances. I think it was unfair. We still have matches left. I wanted the new system to be reconsidered. Teams are not used to using it. This system has caused mistakes in the game.”
The middle blocker Pleumjit broke down in tears during the post match press conference.
Blame Technology?
In some of the matches during this tournament, teams have experienced ISSUES with their tablets and the other forms of technology used during a match.
Like what the Thai coach said during the press con, his tablet did not work properly.The Thai squad would like this advanced system to be reconsidered and reviewed to avoid such situations especially during CRUCIAL matches.
We’re not sure if the coaching staff gets trained on how to use these systems before a tournament.
We can attest that there have been some delays because of it not working especially during substitutions. Coach Guidetti of The Netherlands has experienced similar situations.
Thai Volleyball Fans
After the said match, thousands of Thai volleyball fans took shared their anger and frustrations on various social media networks.
One of the biggest Thai volleyball Facebook Pages, started the “NO SPIRIT” campaign towards Japan which has been shared more than 50,000 times as of press time.
Online Petition
Thai volleyball fans have started an online petition with this description:
On behalf of Thailand Volleyball fan, We just watched volleyball game between Thailand-Japan. That’s very fantastic match during game I appreciate their agility & willful that made it’s a good match until come along to final set(5sets). THE REFEREE gave 2 yellows cards while ……
1. Thailand lead 12-6 , Thai’s coach tried to put the button for substitution his player to be change the tactic. but it doesn’t work & this referee gave red card !!! (Coach decided to constant protest to 2nd referees.)
2. He did -2point for Thailand when draw at 13-13 that made JPN lead 14-13 suddenly and this is a match point!!!!!
We believe that the fair play should be in the FIVB association. As long as we know we need you to reconsider whether what do you do for this & make all peoples who have still doubt about this judgement from this guy.(referee)
Finally, all people in the world not even only the Thailand(volleyball supporter) are respect in FIVB & we hope that you will reconsider & clarify for making everyone clear!
“In the other hand l totally felt someone stolen the win that normally we call “unfair”!!
click HERE to view the petition
Thailand Still Has A Chance
It’s not over yet for Thailand. They can still win an Olympic ticket only if any of the following scenarios will take place:
-Thailand wins all their next 3 matches versus Korea, Kazakhstan and Peru.
-Netherlands loses any of their matches versus Japan, Italy and Peru
-Japan wins 2 of their next 3 matches versus Italy, The Netherlands and the Dominican Republic.
-Korea wins 2 of their next 3 matches versus Thailand, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
Take note, the Top 3 teams and the BEST ranked Asian team advance to the Olympics.
The final round of the tourney resumes on May 20th.
4 Years Ago
Thailand suffered a heartbreak 4 years during the same tournament.
Reports surfaced that Japan purposely lost their match to Serbia (2-30 which prompted the FIVB to investigate for “match fixing”. In the end, the FIVB released this statement:
“The FIVB has investigated the allegation of match fixing. The conclusion of the FIVB control committee in place is that there is no evidence to prove the existence of match fixing. The reports received from the national federations of Japan and Serbia told us the same. Some witnesses in attendance at the match gave the same judgement.” -FIVB President Jizhong Wei.
As of press time, no word if Thailand will file any type of protest.
Kim Yeon Koung To The Rescue
After Thailand failed to make it to the 2012 Olympics, Kim Yeon Koung and Korea took time to comfort the players in their hotel room.
2016 FIVB Grand Prix Finals
In case you didn’t know, Thailand will host the Final Round of the Grand Prix which takes place before the 2016 Olympics.
If Thailand makes it to the Olympics, then it would be a great send off part for their home fans to see them before Thailand makes their first Olympic appearance in volleyball.
If Thailand fails to qualify for the Olympics, we’re not sure how motivated the team would be. Failing to make it to the Olympics is an emotional journey and may take longer for athletes to recovery.
The End Of An Era(?)
We have a feeling that the veterans Wilavan (31), Pleumjit (32), Malika (29), Wanna (35) and Nootsara (30) may retire or may take a break from the national team. These 4 athletes are the CORE players of the team who have played HUGE roles in taking Thailand to become a world class team.
The Future Of Thailand
Ajcharaporn Kongyot (20) and Thatdao Nuekjang (22) look promising and for sure they are the future bright stars to shine in the years to come.
Thoughts?
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