Thailand targets record-extending 17th SEA Games volleyball crown

Thai women's volleyball team sets out on their quest for a record-extending 17th SEA Games title against Singapore on Dec 10

The schedule of the women’s indoor volleyball competition, one of the highly anticipated events in the upcoming 33rd SEA Games among Thai fans, has been released, with reigning champions Thailand set to launch their quest for a record-extending 17th title against Singapore on December 10 at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok.

It is widely expected that women’s indoor volleyball will be among the disciplines that draw large attendance during the 2035 Games, due to be held between December 9 and 20, given its huge popularity among the public.

With a rare opportunity to watch the Thai women’s team in action on home soil in pursuit of another SEA Games glory, most fans surely will not let the chance pass by.

In the preliminary round of women’s indoor volleyball, seven participating teams were divided into two groups, with the Thai women drawn in Group A along with Singapore and the Philippines.

Title rivals Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia are in Group B. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. All matches will take place at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.

According to the schedule announced on Thursday, the Thai women — who have effectively established a stranglehold on the competition by stringing together 15 successive title victories dating back to 1995 — will begin their campaign against Singapore on December 10, followed by the Philippines the next day.

For the men’s event, Thailand are also in Group A along with Laos, Vietnam and Singapore, while Group B comprises Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Cambodia.

The Thai men’s team will face Singapore in the group opener on December 13 before taking on Laos and Vietnam on December 15 and 16 respectively.

The 33rd edition of the region’s biennial sporting tournament will now be staged only in Bangkok and Chon Buri after Songkhla was deemed unfit to host the event due to the ongoing flood crisis in the southern province.