Bangkok, Thailand, December 28, 2023 – Thailand Volleyball Family and distinguished guests gathered at Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel Bangkok on Thursday to honor and congratulate AVC Honorary Life Vice President and Executive Director Mr Shanrit Wongprasert on his administrative career accomplishments and the prestigious recognition gained from the International Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, also Honorary Life President of Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA) and longtime administrator within various national and international federations, was the first member from Thailand and Southeast Asia alike to become the International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee. The induction ceremony was held on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the United States of America, with six inductees including Mr Shanrit (Thailand, Leader) joining the previous 161 players, coaches, administrators and leaders from 25 countries who have already been enshrined in the museum at the birthplace of volleyball.
On Thursday, hundreds of representatives from local sports associations, volleyball-related organizations, generous sponsors, current and former national volleyball coaches and players, referees, former TVA Presidents as well as distinguished guests from Sports Authority of Thailand and local sports bodies joined the celebration to proudly honor Mr Shanrit.
Those who actively attended the Thursday celebration received a blue T-shirt apiece to wear on this auspicious occasion plus a commemorative book containing Mr Shanrit’s highlights, expertise, achievements and photographs that memorialized all he has done in his life for sustainable development of Thailand volleyball.
“If there is one in Thailand volleyball family who succeeds in whatever he has done, everyone in our family will be always pleased and proud of him and will congratulate him on such a great achievement,” TVA President Mr Somporn Chaibangyang wrote a message in the commemorative book to convey an idea of holding this celebration day for Mr Shanrit.
In his welcome speech to all participants, Mr Somporn said, “We are delighted and greatly proud of Mr Shanrit, the key man behind the great success of Thailand volleyball not only in Southeast Asia but also Asia, for his significant life accomplishment to become the first International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee from Thailand and Southeast Asia. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for everyone’s kind attendance in this auspicious occasion to jointly pay tribute to Mr Shanrit and have some words of encouragement for him. As a big volleyball family, I would like all of us to gather in friendly atmosphere like this forever.”
After that, a video showing Mr Shanrit’s life career was presented on big screen to all participants. Congratulatory messages from important persons in Asian volleyball including Mr Wei Jizhong from China, FIVB and AVC Honorary Life President, current AVC President Mrs Rita Subowo from Indonesia, Mr Yim Hyung Bin from Korea, former FIVB and AVC Board of Administration Member, Mr Hiroshi Toyoda from Japan, former FIVB and AVC Board of Administration Member, and Mr Ramon Suzara, current President of Philippine National Volleyball Federation, were also at on-screen display.
Born on December 16, 1943, in Ban Pong District in Ratchaburi, Thailand, Mr Shanrit, 79, started playing in a nine-man system in middle school as a digger of the third row. In high school, in a more traditional six-player configuration, he was an outside hitter. He was a setter while on the Thai national team.
Mr Shanrit stayed in the sport, becoming at first a coach, at the university, club and finally women’s national team levels. But it is as an administrator where Mr Shanrit has made such an enormous impact.
Mr Shanrit in his various roles helped develop volleyball in Thailand from a “few local championships a year, with few spectators, and few sponsors, to become the sport with a lot of championships more than 320 days a year.
Mr Shanrit’s administrative career began as the Secretary General of the TVA for 30 years upon the completion of his coaching career. At that time, he served with six presidents, but he was the one constant that they could all rely on. His work in Thailand was recognized by the global movers and shakers early on. Mr Shanrit had served as Zonal Vice President and AVC Secretary General aside from being the Member of the FIVB Board of Administration since 1992.
Perhaps Shanrit’s biggest contribution was his generosity in sharing his vast knowledge with other AVC federations, helping them with their programs, both in national team development, and the conduction of zonal and continental championships. His unique ability to collaborate and coordinate with other federations facilitated the spread of zonal and continental championships.
In 2019, Mr Shanrit was awarded the Olympic Council of Asia’s Merit Award for his outstanding service to the development of sports in Asia and has held various positions within the Thailand Volleyball Association over the course of his career. He has helped organize and oversee the AVC competitions in indoor and beach volleyball for the sustainable development of Asian and global volleyball.
Four years ago, when he was 75, Mr Shanrit decided to step away from all of his responsibilities. But he could not reject the overtures of AVC President Mrs Rita Subowo, who named him to the AVC Executive Director position as well as Honorary Life Vice President position.
In his speech, Mr Shanrit said, “I find it hard to say thank you when learning that all of you made my day. Thank you for making my day special and memorable. Without kind supports from TVA President Mr Somporn Chaibangyang and former TVA Presidents as well as TVA Board of Administration Members, I myself could not become the International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee. I would like to also deliver my sincere thanks to all parties involved for the continued supports to TVA in the past 40 years. My appreciation also went to Thai referees, participating teams and the local organisers for their excellent coordination in making volleyball tournaments happen in Thailand and for sustainable development of Thailand volleyball.”
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