Thailand captain Pleumjit Thinkaow takes a selfie with the crowd of supporters using the smartphone of a volleyball fan at Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday. (Photo by Prakit Chantawong)
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The Thai women's volleyball team returned home on Monday evening from the Olympic qualification tournament to a heartfelt welcome.
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The players and coaches arrived on a THAI Airways International flight at Suvarnabhumi airport and received a warm welcome from a huge group of cheering fans, as well as sports authorities, including Somporn Chaybangyang, president of the Volleyball Association of Thailand, and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.
While the Thai team failed to secure a place in the qualifying tournament in Tokyo for the Olympic Games, they apparently won the hearts of Thais for their impressive performance and strong spirits.
Thailand captain Pleumjit Thinkaow said: “We want to bring victory home every time we play. This time we may disappoint [Thais for an Olympic seat] but we aren't discouraged. In the next four years, younger players will try to make the dream come true for everyone.”
Wilawan Apinyapong, a former captain, said: “On behalf of everyone in the team, I thank all fans for their continued support. Everyone in the team accepts the tournament’s outcome…. We lose together and we win together.”
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Upon their returning, three companies announced they would award a total of 12 million baht to the team in recognition of their impressive performance in Tokyo.
Of the 12-million-baht sponsorship, the beverages company Thai Drinks contributes 10 million while True Corporation and ONE Championship promoter each give one million.
The team will meet Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House at 10am on Tuesday. They will have a chance to rest for only a few days before going to Switzerland on Thursday to compete in the 2016 Montreux Volley Masters.
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Meanwhile, FIVB Board of Administration member Shanrit Wongprasert on Monday told reporters that he had resigned from all positions in the volleyball’s international governing body because he was upset by an article on FIVB’s website which described the Thai team and their coaches as “ill-disciplined” and blamed this for Thailand’s controversial 3-2 loss to host Japan on Wednesday night.
Mr Sharnrit said he could not accept what was written in the article, which came despite the fact that the match referee Luis Gerardo Macias of Mexico should be probed for his ruling.
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He did not name the article in question but what he was referring to was most likely the one about the match.
"I'm done with FIVB. Honour and dignity are more valuable than money," Mr Shanrit said.
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