The maiden tournament will give the senior members of national teams more exposure to one another while younger players will compete in the Asian Club Championship.

The proposed tournament

will be held biennially, alternat-ing with the Asian Champion-ships.

Only the top eight teams in both men's and women's categories from the Asian Championship will be allowed to take part in the Asian Cup.

More details of the event will be released after an FIVB meeting, scheduled for May.

Meanwhile, the Volleyball Association of Thailand (VAT) has decided not to host the World Grand Prix, the premier women's tournament, as it coincides with the World University Games, which will be held in the Kingdom from August 8 to 18.

VAT secretary-general Shanrit Wongprasert said FIVB rules do not allow the association to field a weakened team or a second string side in the Grand Prix.

"We do not want to go against the rules and field different teams for different tournaments. Most of our players are from the universities and we just cannot have separate teams," he said.

Shanrit said the association would not be penalised by the world body for not organising this year's meet. VAT, he said, would send a team to the Grand Prix next year.

Somporn Suphop

The Nation