Wilawan Apinyapong revealed the criteria for selecting women's volleyball players to compete in various tournaments, while praising the hungry rising stars eager to join the national team.
On 13 May 2026 GMT+7, the Thailand women's national volleyball team entered a training camp to prepare for various competitions in 2026, starting with the first event, the 2026 Nations League (VNL 2026). "Gift" Wilawan Apinyapong, serving as team manager overseeing all team management, disclosed that the young athletes are eager to be among the 14 selected players.
Intense training sessions
"Coach Ott has designed the training to prepare the team for the VNL. The sessions are intense because many players are newcomers receiving their first opportunities this year, so they are very determined to be among the 14 players for each match. The positive aspect is that everyone is hungry to play."
One Team Thailand activity
Regarding the team’s One Team Thailand activity, Gift Wilawan said, "This is a challenge for every organization with multiple generations. Within the team, we try to address or reduce gaps by fostering relationships. The key is that they have limited time to work together since everyone plays professionally separately. We organize more joint activities, and from what I see, this has improved gradually, narrowing the gap. Actually, the younger players do not quarrel; it’s about bringing them closer so their teamwork and connection on the court improve."
Strengths of the rising athletes
"This year, we may see more young players from the new generation helping our team. We will choose the most complete and ready players for our team. Most of these young players are strong due to their youth and physical fitness, which will benefit the team."
"As for the senior players, they contribute experience, while those with existing injuries who are not yet fully recovered must be confirmed by doctors as ready to compete or train before we select them. As mentioned, our team has a long yearly schedule, so player planning must prioritize the athletes' physical readiness and overall condition."