Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, August 27, 2023 – As the curtain came down on the 22nd Asian Senior Men’s Championship in Urmia, Iran on August 26, focus now switches to the women’s event when a strong field of 14 teams across the continent will strut their stuff in the 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship in Thailand, vying for top honor and accumulated points for FIVB World Ranking.
Chart Chai Hall, main competition hall
The 22nd edition of the continent’s biggest women’s volleyball tournament will be held between August 30 and September 6 at 5,000-seater Chartchai Hall and The Mall Korat’s MCC Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, a large province with a distance of 259km from Bangkok and acts as a gateway to other provinces in the northeast.
The Mall Korat’s MCC Hall
Participating teams have been divided into four pools, with Pool A consisting of hosts and current world No.16 Thailand, which captured the Asian title twice in 2009 and 2013 and are seeking their third crown on home soil, Mongolia, which finished 11th in their last appearance at the 2015 edition in China, and world No.53 Australia, while Pool B consists of world No.8 Japan and defending and consecutive two-time Asian champions, world No.68 India and Iran, current world No.65.
World No.35 Korea, which have yet won the Asian title to secure second spot for seven times in this championship, are chasing their ultimate dreams of winning their unprecedented title in Nakhon Ratchasima. They will contest Pool C together with world No.51 Chinese Taipei, world No.69 Uzbekistan and AVC Challenge Cup champions Vietnam, current world No.48.
Formidable China, world No.6, former 13-time Asian champions and historic silver medallists at the recent 2023 VNL, are in Pool D, with world No. 66 Hong Kong China, world No. 44 Kazakhstan and world No.60 Philippines joining the fray.
Teams will be pitted against one another in the pool round-robin preliminaries, with only top two teams from each pool advancing to the Top 8, split into Pool E (A1, A2, C1, C2) and Pool F (B1, B2, D1, D2). Lower-ranked sides will be relegated to Classification Round for 9th-14th places, with teams finishing 3rd in Pool A and 3rd, 4th places in Pool C contesting Pool G and those finishing 3rd in Pool B and 3rd, 4th places in Pool D competing in Pool H.
In Round of Top 8, the well-qualified teams will contest the pool round-robin competition once again, with top two teams from Pool E and Pool F contesting the cross semifinals. The two winning teams will next face off in the final showdown on September 6, while the losers will fight it out in the third-place playoff clash for bronze medal on the same day.
Iran and Japan set up an opening clash at Chartchai Hall on August 30 at 12pm local time, followed by the other two matches, Korea against Vietnam at 3pm and Australia against hosts Thailand at 6pm.
The first match at The Mall Korat’s MCC Hall on August 30 sees Hong Kong China challenge China at 12pm local time, while Kazakhstan take on Philippines at 3pm and Chinese Taipei play Uzbekistan at 6pm.
AVC Coordinator Mr Shanrit and Nakhon Ratchasima Vice Governor Mr Charin jointly preside over the meeting
To first check readiness ahead of the official kickoff of the 22nd Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship on August 30, members of the Control Committee and the Local Organizing Committee gathered at the meeting room inside the Chartchai Hall for the first joint meeting.
Mr Shanrit
As Control Committee President Mr Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai was on the way back from Urmia, Iran, where he had been appointed as the AVC Coordinator for the concluded 22nd Asian Senior Men’s Championship, AVC Coordinator Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, himself AVC Executive Director, chaired the Monday’s meeting, with Nakhon Ratchasima Vice Governor Mr Charin Tongsuk presiding.
Mr Charin
Mr Charin delivered a welcome speech, while Mr Shanrit, saying on behalf of AVC President Mrs Rita Subowo, thanked host city Nakhon Ratchasima and all Control Committee Members for the great support in making this championship happen.
Technical Delegate Mr Raditia Rahmat Darwis from Indonesia, right, and Technical Sub Committee Dr Shihab Al Din Ahmed Said Al Riyami from Oman
“The 22nd edition of the Asian Senior Women’s Championship will serve as the tune-up matches for teams training intensively in their preparation for the next month’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, while some teams are also in their final stage of preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Volleyball Qualification Tournaments. With strong teams actively participating in this championship, a large number of volleyball fans are expected to turn out at both competition sites to closely watch the thrilling matches,” Mr Shanrit was quoted as saying in his speech.
Referee Delegate Mr Songsak Chareonpong from Thailand, far right, Referee Sub Committee Mr Takashi Shimoyama from Japan, second from right, Referee Sub Committee Mr Chang Jong Jong from Chinese Taipei, second from left, and Referee Sub Committee Dr Khalid Al-Zughaibi from Saudi Arabia, far left
After that, the meeting attendants were informed of relevant activities, with the venue inspection due to be conducted shortly after the end of the meeting and the preliminary inquiry to take place up to each schedule from Monday night to the following morning.
Local organisers
Control Committee Members and local organisers later went inspecting both competition halls at Chartchai Hall and The Mall Korat’s MCC Hall as well as four training venues, two inside Suranaree University of Technology and another two at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan.
Chart Chai Hall from the grand stand
The Mall Korat’s MCC Hall from the stand
Referee Clinic will be conducted both theoretically and practically at Chartchai Hall on August 29, followed by the final inspection later on the same day. The General Technical Meeting as well as the Opening Ceremony and Welcome Dinner will take place on Tuesday night at Sima Thani Hotel.
MATCH SCHEDULE
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