THRILLS AND SPILLS EXPECTED AT VIETNAM-HOSTED 31ST SEA GAMES VOLLEYBALL AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS

THRILLS AND SPILLS EXPECTED AT VIETNAM-HOSTED 31ST SEA GAMES VOLLEYBALL AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTS

Vietnam and hosts Philippines play a tough match in the previous edition of the SEA Games women’s volleyball tournament 

Bangkok, Thailand, April 1, 2022 – With just 40 days remaining until the start of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, thrills and spills at the Games volleyball and beach volleyball competitions keep fans on their toes, with team entries confirmed and drawing of lots to be conducted soon.

In the 31st SEA Games, a biennial regional multi-sports extravaganza which will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam between May 12 and 23, 2022, seven countries (teams) have already confirmed their participation in the volleyball competition, while Laos and Singapore will be sending their teams only in the beach volleyball event.

In the volleyball competition, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and hosts Vietnam will be sending both men’s and women’s teams, with Cambodia and Myanmar strutting their stuff only in the men’s event in this year’s SEA Games, due to take place at the 7,000-seater Quang Ninh Gymnasium in Quang Ninh Province. According to the latest information from the host nation, admission will be free of charge during the Games competitions.

Quang Ninh Gymnasium

Following the SEA Games rules and regulations, five women’s teams – reigning and 15-time champions Thailand, Vietnam, seeking their unprecedented tile at home this time after claiming 9 silvers including one at the previous edition, Indonesia, champions in 1983 and bronze medallists in 2019, former six-time winners Philippines and Malaysia will play a single round-robin competition.

Thailand capture their 15th SEA Games crown in 2019 in Philippines

At the same time, seven teams – Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar will test their mettle in men’s pool round-robin preliminaries.

The seven men’s teams will be placed in Pool A  and Pool B in serpentine system and according to the results of the previous edition in 2019 in Philippines.

Indonesia reign supreme in 2019 SEA Games men’s volleyball

Defending champions Indonesia and Myanmar, fourth place in 2019, will be in Pool A, while Philippines, silver medallists at the previous edition on their home soil, and Thailand, bronze medalists in 2019, will be in Pool B. Cambodia and Malaysia will be drawn as the third team in Pool A and Pool B.

After the drawing of lots, likely to be conducted on April 12, hosts Vietnam has the right to choose to be in Pool A or Pool B.

Meanwhile, the 31st SEA Games beach volleyball competition features 8 countries – hosts Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos and Singapore in the men’s event. Among these participating nations, only Cambodia and Laos will not be fielding their women’s teams, resulting only 6 countries to contest the women’s event.

In both men’s and women’s events, each country will be represented by two teams playing in a best-of-three sets match for a victory.

Indonesia will be out to defend their men’s title, with Thailand and Philippines, respective silver and bronze medallists at the previous edition, expected to mount sturdy challenges against them.

Thailand prove a class above the rest in 2019 SEA Games women’s beach volleyball

In the women’s event, title-holders Thailand and closest rivals Indonesia, silver medallists in 2019, are expected to battle it out for the eventual crown in this year’s SEA Games. However, the Philippines, which underwent intensive training in Brisbane, Australia in their serious preparation for the Games, will prove to be a thorn in the flesh coming May in Vietnam.

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