Hong Kong: Coach Oat Kiattipong Rachata-kriangkrai praised the Thai women's volleyball team for their determination and effort after a challenging match against Italy, where they lost 0-3 sets. Despite the defeat, the coach emphasized that every point was earned through the athletes' hard work.
According to Thai News Agency, the match took place during the Nations League 2025 Week 2 in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Thai team, ranked 14th in the world, faced the formidable Italian national team, currently ranked 1st. Prior to this match, the Thai women had a close 2-3 loss to Japan, while Italy secured a 3-1 victory over Bulgaria.
In the game against Italy, Coach Oat deployed a starting lineup that included "Captain Piew" Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Pornpan Kerdprach, Wimonrat Thanaphan, Warisara Seetalet, Thatdao Nuekjang, and Pimpichaya Kokram, with Piyanuch Pannoy serving as the libero. Despite their efforts, the Thai team was unable to counter Italy's strength, resulting in a 0-3 loss with set scores of 19-25, 20-25, and 18-25. This marked their second consecutive loss in the tournament's second field, bringing their overall record to 1 win and 5 losses, with 4 points. Meanwhile, Italy maintained their perfect record with 6 consecutive wins and accumulated 17 points.
Post-match, Coach Oat expressed his pride in the team's performance against a top-ranked opponent like Italy, viewing it as an invaluable learning experience. Additionally, "Pure" Ajcharaporn Kongyot appreciated the opportunity for the younger players to gain exposure against Italy's main squad.
Looking ahead, the Thai women's volleyball team will take a day off before their next match against the Czech Republic, scheduled for June 21 at 3:30 p.m.