Head coaches from four participating teams join the group photo with the Control Committee during the General Technical Meeting
Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, August 1, 2024 – Following a successful organization of the first leg of the last year’s edition, Vinh Phuc is all set to host the 4th Southeast Asian Volleyball League, known as the SEA V.League and formerly named Asean Grand Prix, for the second-year running from August 2 to 4 at the 3,000-seater Vinh Phuc Gymnasium.
Defending champions and current world No.14 Thailand are back to defend their titles achieved in both legs last year in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam and Chiang Mai, Thailand. This time, a strong challenge can again be expected from hosts and current world No.32 Vietnam, winners at this year’s AVC Challenge Cup in Philippines and historic bronze medallists at the FIVB Challenger Cup also in Philippines.
As Thailand, consecutive 14-time Southeast Asian Games winners, remained strong offensively with the likes of Chutchu-On Moksrit, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Pimpichaya Kokram, Thatdao Nuekjang, Thanacha Sooksod, Sasipapron Janthawisut and setter Pornpun Gerdpard, all of whom competed in this year’s Volleyball Nations League, where they finished a well-earned 8th position on home soil in Bangkok, Vietnam will have highly-experienced Tran Thi Thanh Thuy at the helm and are likely to field Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, one of their strongest players to be reckoned with in the three-day tournament.
The 188cm-tall Bich Tuyen emerged as the best scorer at the FIVB Challenger Cup, producing aggregate 77 points, apart from the best attacker with 73 attack points won during the Vietnam matches.
Meanwhile, world No.56 Philippines, former six-time SEA Games champions which finished seventh in this year’s FIVB Challenger Cup on home soil, and world No.58 Indonesia are another two strong teams whose young stars can prove a thorn in the other rivals’ flesh.
Like the previous edition last year, the women’s event will be split into two legs, with the first one being held from August 2 to 4 at Vinh Phuc Gymnasium in Vietnam, the competition venue for the 2023 Asian Women’s Club Championship, which was also won by Vietnam national team played under the Sport Center 1’s banner.
Vinh Phuc Gymnasium
The second leg will take place between August 9 and 11 at the 5,000-seater Chartchai Hall inside the His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5 December 2007 Sports Complex in Nakhon Ratchasima, the venue where Thailand captured the third Asian Senior Women’s Championship title last year following their 3-2 win in the final showdown against China’s gold medal-winning World University Games squad.
Chartchai Hall
In the inaugural edition of SEA V. League in 2019, Thailand captured the first leg title on home soil in Nakhon Ratchasima, while Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam finished second, third and fourth places respectively.
The second leg in the same year in Santa Rosa, Philippines saw Thailand repeat the similar feat, while the following positions remained unchanged with Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam coming in second, third and fourth places respectively.
In the second edition in 2022, only one leg was held in Nakhon Ratchasima. Hosts Thailand still proved too strong for their lower-ranked opponents to reign supreme, while hard-hitting Tran Thi Thanh Thuy steered Vietnam to the second-place finish. Indonesia came in third place, with Philippines in fourth position.
In the third edition in 2023, Thailand remained strong with the likes of six key players who in the previous season had competed in overseas leagues: Chatchu-On Moksri and Ajcharaporn Kongyot from Turkish League, Pimpichaya Kokram, Thatdao Nuekjang and Thanacha Sooksod from Japan League and setter Pornpun Guedpard, who made her presence felt in Romania League.
Regarding daily matches in the first leg in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam from August 2 to 4, the opening match will commence at 4pm local time, with the second encounter taking place at 7pm.
On Friday, the first day of the tournament, Thailand will kick off their title defence against Indonesia, followed by the match between Vietnam and Philippines. The following day sees Thailand take on Philippines, with hosts Vietnam challenging Indonesia. The final day of the single round-robin tournament on Sunday sees Philippines meet Indonesia and Thailand face off against Vietnam.
At conclusion of the three-day tournament, the team with the best performance will be crowned champions. The remaining teams will claim the respective second, third and fourth places up to their overall performances in Vinh Phuc.
On Thursday, the Referee & VIS Clinic was conducted at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium, designed to get all referees well-prepared for the tournament and provide them necessary information on rules and regulations, match control techniques as well as introduction to any proposed changes and their awareness and response to the VDO Challenge System.
Later in the afternoon practical part of the clinic, those who attended the theoretical session earlier had been assigned to officiate at a match performed by two demonstration teams.
This was to improve the referees’ decision making and their quality of officiating while all of them are on duty on matchdays.
Furthermore, to make sure all is set for the single round-robin competition, the General Technical Meeting was held at Crowne Plaza Hotel on Thursday, with Mr Le Tri Truong, Secretary General of Vietnam Volleyball Federation, and Mr Nguyen Vn Hien, Vice Director of Vinh Phuc Sports Department, jointly presiding.
Technical Delegate Mr Chia Min Chong from Singapore and Referee Delegate Mr Songsak Chareonpong from Thailand jointly conducted the meeting.
Staff coaches and team managers of four participating teams as well as local organisers and accompanying referees to officiate in this tournament attended the meeting to be informed of relevant rules of the game and refereeing matters.
Hosts Vietnam also held the Welcome Dinner for all participating teams at Crowne Plaza Hotel, with Mr Le Tri Truong, Secretary General of the Volleyball Federation of Vietnam, and Mr Tran Duy Dong, Predsident of Vinh Phuc Province, jointly presiding and presenting bouquets of flowers to team captains.
MATCH SCHEDULE
FIRST LEG
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