Biography of Onuma Sittirak, known as "Pee On," one of the legendary "7 Masters" of Thailand's women's national volleyball team, nicknamed the powerful outside hitter with destructive force. Her history from beginnings to global success has made her a role model for younger players.
Onuma Sittirak was born on 13 June 1986 in Surat Thani province. She began her sports journey as a determined young athlete from a provincial area. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Rattana Bundit University. Early on, Onuma was not notably tall compared to international players in the same position, but she compensated with discipline and intense training to build muscle and attacking power.
Onuma first joined the senior national team at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, and has been a key contributor ever since. Her most notable achievements include:
2009: Led Thailand to win the Asian Women's Volleyball Championship for the first time, earning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Spiker awards.
2012: Helped the team win the Asian Cup (AVC Cup 2012), setting a record by winning three awards: Most Valuable Player, Best Scorer, and Best Spiker.
2013: Made history by leading the team to their second Asian Championship title in Nakhon Ratchasima province and was the top scorer at the 2013 World Grand Champions Cup.
Onuma was among the first Thai athletes to play professionally abroad in countries such as Turkey, Switzerland, Vietnam, Russia, and most notably for the JT Marvelous club in Japan's league from 2014 to 2017.
Retirement from the national team: Onuma officially ended her national team career in 2021 after the Volleyball Nations League (VNL 2021), alongside the "7 Masters" siblings, to allow younger players to continue the legacy. However, she continues to play professionally in the Thailand League, currently with the Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC club.
Powerful spikes: She earned the nicknames "Elephant Power Spike" and "Onuma Power" from fans due to her heavy hitting.
Jump serve: A key weapon that frequently scored aces, with power comparable to her spikes.
Agility: Despite her strong, muscular build, she has excellent speed and movement, able to attack from both the outside and back row.
Onuma exemplifies "perseverance and overcoming limits."
Skill and determination: She proved that despite a height of only 176 cm (considered short by global standards), with discipline and proper training she could become a world-class player and win MVP awards at major tournaments.
Fighting spirit: Younger players see her as a role model for composure and handling pressure. On the court, Onuma was always a reliable source of crucial points for the team.
Passing on experience: Even after retiring from the national team, she uses her experience from playing in Europe and Japan to mentor younger players at her club and demonstrates professionalism in maintaining her body to sustain a long career at the professional level.
