Thai team ready to fire
[VOLLEYBALL] The Thai women's volleyball squad arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday afternoon, ready to face Olympic champions China, Russia and Azerbaijan in the first leg of this year's World Grand Prix this weekend.
On their departure the 18-member team wore yellow shirts in honour of the diamond jubilee of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne. The squad had a tough training session on their first night in Hong Kong. The Thai squad look much stronger than at last year's tournament, where they did not win a single match and finished last at the 12-team meet. "I think my girls have improved a lot," head coach Suttichai Chanbunchee told The Nation. "Last year we did not prepare well for the tournament. The Thai team have been SEA Games champions seven consecutive times and will open their campaign against China at 8.30pm (Bangkok time) on Friday before going up against the tall Russians the following day at 12.15pm (Bangkok time). On the final day of the first leg of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong the Thai girls will play Azerbaijan. All the matches will take place at the 10,000-seat Hong Kong Coliseum.
Preechachan Wiriyanupappong The Nation Hong Kong
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