2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Continental Championship

Pretty cool, with a 5 setter I was able to watch it spoiler free without the match length giving it away early. Way to freaking go Thailand!

Sassy Sasipaporn you are queen. Strangely she was completely absent after the match for all the screaming and hugging and crying. I saw the back of her jersey a couple times but that's it. Wonder what she was doing

just putting my name here

Thailand finally got their revenge after they were robbed of that 2016 spot. I am so happy for them. Kinda bittersweet thinking about how the Golden Six never made it to Olympics but these new gen will carry the dream for them.

To think about it, Ajcharaporn used to play with the Golden Six. Crazy to think how long she has been with the national team.

Quote from Genius of the Sky

Thailand finally got their revenge after they were robbed of that 2016 spot. I am so happy for them. Kinda bittersweet thinking about how the Golden Six never made it to Olympics but these new gen will carry the dream for them.

To think about it, Ajcharaporn used to play with the Golden Six. Crazy to think how long she has been with the national team.

I believe that Chatchu-on and Pimpichaya were also in the roster back then

Quote from Julian Chow

Yep, they all did, at the start of their careers. Ajcharaporn is like a link between this generation and the " Fab Five or Six" whereas Pimpichaya and Chatchu-On is generally considered the current generation, along with Thatdao, Pornpun, Libero Piyanut, Thanacha and Hattaya...and a new generation is on the way, led by Natchaya Tahae (b.2009).

It's interesting that Nootsara Tomkom, Malika and Pluemjit are still playing club volleyball whereas Wilawan is a coach. Recently retired Onuma might also take up coaching duties. She was seen celebrating with the players last night.

Piyanut is the same generation of Wilawan & co. She is the only one still in NT among the “golden” generation. Onuma should be a NT assistant coach now. She was captured by camera a lot of times with other coaching staff during timeout.

I think Pleumjit still plays in the club, anyone knows how her form looks like compared to current non-Thatdao MBs in NT? From what I saw in last few years the 2nd MB position is IMO lowkey a problem for Thailand although Kaewkalaya looked better than the other one they tried.

I wonder how Feng Kun felt with Thailand qualifying at the expense of China. I believe she is the team manager (and wife of the coach) of this Thai team.

Quote from mintonette

I wonder how Feng Kun felt with Thailand qualifying at the expense of China. I believe she is the team manager (and wife of the coach) of this Thai team.

And she is the one who presented the silver medals to the Chinese team during the ceremony.

Speaking of dilemma, a analyst on the Thailand team is Japanese. He worked with the Japan NT last year before switching to the Thai team this year. I saw him post a statement addressing the criticism from irrational Japanese fans after the semifinal match. He explained that his contract with the Japan Volleyball Federation was not renewed, and Thailand recruited him afterwards. He is only doing his job professionally for the Thai NT, and he still respects and supports the Japan NT.

Quote from Colinaddicted

He is only doing his job professionally for the Thai NT, and he still respects and supports the Japan NT.

Not surprising he's at Thai NT after his Japan contract was not renewed. He's pretty much always seen with Pimpichaya in recent years. After being in Kurobe together, he became an Assistant Coach in Germany the year Pimpichaya signed in Germany (different teams), then the following year when Pimpichaya transferred to Nancy in France, he also became Assistant Coach in France (same team this time).

Quote from mintonette

I wonder how Feng Kun felt with Thailand qualifying at the expense of China. I believe she is the team manager (and wife of the coach) of this Thai team.

Of course she would be happy, wouldn’t she? She has married to the Thai coach for over a decade and she knows it’s the biggest dream of her husband and his team. Helping the team to qualify the OG is exactly the reason and target of her husband returning to the NT. You can also easily find clips of her training with the Thai NT on social media. Also I don’t think she needs to feel sorry or worry for the Chinese NT. The Chinese still has big chance to qualify for OG by world rankings unless they become even bigger mess in the next years (which I won’t be too surprised though lol)

Other than Thailand's Olympic Qualification, Thailand, China and Japan already qualified for the World Cup (WCH) next year by finishing in the top 3 in this tournament. Korea might also qualify depending on the World Ranking by October 2 cutoff.

I wonder if Tomkom will try to come back and finally play at the 2028 Olympics.

Quote from Russia13

I wonder if Tomkom will try to come back and finally play at the 2028 Olympics.

She could try but as much as I love her she barely continues her 'professional' career. The 2nd Thai setter for sure is in better form that her.

Quote from Russia13

I wonder if Tomkom will try to come back and finally play at the 2028 Olympics.

I would liveeee if Nootsara comes back. Always thought that she is up there with Maja and Wolosz as the iconic setters of their generation.

This time I would say the Dream Team is correct, ... or were there some other interesting names that could have been included?