Meet Cesar Ho, the ‘Ponpun-Whipai-Tanacha’ Aquare Thai trio
There are some welcome additions to the 14-player roster of the Thailand Women’s National Team as they travel to Turkiye in Week 1 of the FIVB Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2023. Setter Ponpoon Gedpard (IBK), outside hitter Wipai Sittong (Hyundai E&C) and outside hitter Apojit Tanacha Sooksut (Korea Expressway Corporation), who will be travelling to South Korea for this year’s V-League Asia Quarterfinals.안전놀이터
Thailand, ranked 15th in the FIVB World Rankings, will open Week 1 of the VNL in Antalya, Turkey, alongside Korea. The Thais will face Italy, Canada, Poland and South Korea in their respective matches.
The 14-man roster for Week 1 has also been released. The Thais have retained key players from last year’s squad, including setter Ponpun, outside hitters Chatchuon Moksri, Acharaporn Kongyot and Apojit Pimpichaya Kokram, middle blocker Thadao Nukjang and libero and captain Piyanut Panoy.
Defensive specialists Wipai and Tanacha are also back. Tanacha was also a backup attacker for Pimpichaya last year.
Setter Sirima Manakit, middle blockers Chitaporn Kamrangmak, Hataya Bamrungsuk and Jarasapon Bundasak, outside hitter Sasipapon Jantawisut and libero Supatra Pyaroj will also be travelling to Turkuye.
After Thailand missed out on qualification for Tokyo 2020, veteran players retired, and a generational change was inevitable. Ponpun, who was overshadowed by Nussara Tomkom, and experienced captain Piyanut lead the way. The strikers have grown more mature after playing in overseas leagues such as Japan and Turkkiye. They emerged as a dark horse last year, using their speed to their advantage with a solid organisational structure like Japan.
Thailand travelled to Turkuye on the 27th ahead of their Week 1 schedule.
However, Ponpun’s fitness will be a factor. Ponpun, who previously played in the Indonesian and Japanese leagues, spent the 2022-23 season with Romanian side Rapid Bucharest. The Thai national team then travelled to the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in early May, but Ponpun was forced to sit out due to injury. The VNL roster is rounded out by setters Sirima and Soraya Pomra.
According to Thai outlet Thairath, Ponpun said, “I’ve done a good job of identifying the symptoms and rehabbing, so I’m feeling 100 per cent now. I’m just worried about my fitness,” she said, adding, “I don’t know which players are coming to Turkuye yet, but I’m ready to face them. If we play our game correctly and are not afraid, we have a chance to win.”
Captain Piyanut added: “We have new setters and attackers. We need time to adapt. We have some adjustments to make within the team.” “All the teams in the VNL are tough. We don’t want to underestimate any of the teams,” he said.
Meanwhile, South Korea and Thailand will meet on 4 June at 8pm.