Bangkok, Thailand, November 1, 2023 – The FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships will be returning to Thailand early this month, as the volleyball-loving nation is ready to welcome the world’s most talented U21 beach volleyball athletes once again following its remarkable success of hosting the 2021 edition in Phuket.
Roi Et, a central northeastern province of Thailand with a distance of 425km (264 miles) from capital city Bangkok, is gearing up to host the highly-awaited 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships, a double-gender international beach volleyball tournament for athletes under the age of 21, from November 7 to 12 in front of Roi Et Tower, the picturesque 101m-high tower in the shape of a traditional circular panpipe located in Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park in Mueng District.
Roi Et is no stranger to beach volleyball enthusiasts as the province has already hosted several major beach volleyball events consisting of the Asian U21 Beach Volleyball Championships in 2017, 2019 and 2023 (in July) aside from the 2022 Asian Senior Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship.
To ensure all is set for the six-day event and to communicate an effective message with a voluntary presentation of information to the media, Thailand Volleyball Association and host province Roi Et recently held a press conference at Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel Bangkok on October 27.
TVA President Mr Somporn Chaibangyang, AVC Honorary Life Vice President and Executive Director Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, who was honored and presented with the 2023 Induction Class (Leader) by the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) on October 21 in Holyoke, the United States of America, and Roi Et Governor Mr Songpol Jai-krim jointly presided over the meeting.
Shanrit
Also in attendance were Mr Seksit Vainiyompong, President of Roi Et Provincial Administrative Organization, Mayor of Roi Et Mr Banjong Kositjiranan, TVA Secretary General Mr Nattapong Kesaphan and a number of sports journalists.
Seksit
Banjong
“Our athletes have been training intensively in Roi Et. However, due to the presence of talented athletes from around the world who bring with them strong and unique abilities, physical skills and exceptional tactics and techniques, our hopes, therefore, cannot be that high in the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in Roi Et. As the world-class event will be held here in our country, I had told Thai coaches and athletes to do their best, gaining valuable competition experience for their applied uses in future major competitions,” Mr Somporn was quoted as saying in the interview with the media after the press conference.
Somporn
“I think our athletes have to make a bigger impact on and off the court. On court, they should try their best in the intense competition, but off the court, our athletes, as hosts, have to provide best hospitality to all visitors. This includes creating a warm and welcoming environment for them, showing Thai culture values including Thai ways of life and smiles.”
Songpol
Regarding the host province’s preparation, Mr Songpol said, “Roi Et is not just a host province, but we are organizing the championships on behalf of the host nation Thailand. Everyone has cooperated well in the preparation task, hoping to make the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships a great success. It’s almost like you can imagine everything is now accelerating. I can say that our preparation for the championships is almost 100 percent ready. Requirements have been prepared for relevant matters including competition courts, working groups, boarding and lodging and safety measures.
“Hosting the championships is not only to help promote beach volleyball competitions, but also boost tourism and economy in Thailand and Roi Et in particular. Roi Et Public Relations has subsequently shared the competition information in order to build mutually beneficial relationships and influence public perception among Roi Et residents and neighboring provinces. A large number of spectators are expected to turn out on matchdays to watch matches at the competition venue.”
The 2023 edition in Roi Et is the consecutive fourth time that the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships will be held in Asia. Since the event inception in Le Lavandou, France in 2001, the championships had already taken place in Asia for three times in succession – 2017 in Nanjing (China), 2019 in Udon Thani (Thailand) and 2021 in Phuket (Thailand).
Athletes from 58 countries have already submitted their entries for the FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in Roi Et between November 7 and 12, 2023. The qualification will be played in a single elimination format on November 7, with a maximum of 24 teams contesting to qualify four teams and to fill any vacancy(ies) in the Main Draw due to withdrawals of Main Draw teams.
The Main Draw will be held on November 8 and 9, followed by Round of 24 on November 10. Qualified teams will next take part in the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals on November 11, with the semifinals, bronze and gold medal matches taking place on November 12.
Thirty-two teams will participate in the Main Draw, playing in eight pools of four teams each (in a round-robin system). The best three ranked teams in each pool (totaling 24 teams) will advance to the next phase of the event, which will consist of a single elimination phase played until the bronze and gold medal matches.
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Thai athletes train at the competition venue in front of Roi Et Tower
As hosts, Thailand will field two teams apiece in both men’s and women’s events of the main draw, while Ben Hood, who teamed up with Lucas Josefsen to clinch the 2023 Asian Men’s U21 title, will contest the U21 Worlds in Roi Et with new partner D’Artagnan Potts. Australians Stefanie Fejes/Jasmine Fleming, who captured the Asian Women’s U21 title this year in Roi Et, will be out to prove their talents against the world’s bests in the women’s competition.
Since the inaugural Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships had been held in France in 2001, no other Asian teams but Australia had made the podium. Becchara Palmer/Alice Rohkamper secured silver in 2007 in Modena, Italy, with Mariafe Artacho/Taliqua Clancy claiming bronze in 2012 in Halifax, Canada.
The 2021 edition of the U21 World Championships in Phuket featured victories for Sweden and Ukraine in respective men’s and women’s events. Swedes David Ahman/Jonatan Hellvig claimed gold in the men’s competition, while Ukrainians Anhelina Khmer/Tetiana Lazarenko defeated Spaniards Daniela Alvarez Mendoza/Sofia Gonzalez Recero in the women’s final.
The 2023 FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World Championships in Roi Et, Thailand between November 7 and 12 can be watched live through YouTube: TVA Channel, Asian Volleyball Confederation and Facebook Fanpage: Thailand Volleyball Association.
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