World-class coach Julio Velasco praises the Thai women's volleyball team after they won the Asian Championship and qualified for their first Olympics.
On 3 September 2026 GMT+7, Julio Velasco, head coach of Italy's women's volleyball team, praised Thailand's women's volleyball team for winning the 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship and making history by qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games—Thailand's first appearance at the Olympics.
Julio Velasco, a 74-year-old Argentine coach, is a top figure in volleyball, having led Italy's men's team to one Olympic gold medal, two World Championship titles, and three European Championships. He also coached Italy's women's team to the 2024 Olympic gold, one World Championship title, and two VNL championships.
After Italy defeated Sweden 3-1 in the 2026 Women's European Volleyball Championship quarterfinals to reach the semifinals in Istanbul, Turkey, Velasco spoke about the Thai women's volleyball team.
Velasco observed that women's volleyball has become more competitive, noting that world No. 1 Italy lost the first set to Sweden, ranked 19th, before rallying to win. He cited Thailand's recent Asian Championship victory, where they defeated Asia's No. 1 Japan and No. 2 China.
The Italian volleyball coach said of Thailand, "This isn't limited to European competitions. Considering that Thailand won the Asian Championship by beating both Japan and China and earned direct qualification to the Olympics, it reflects the current overall state of volleyball very well."
"You might win a match due to favorable factors or circumstances, but defeating the two strongest teams in Asia simultaneously means far more than a routine victory."
"In the internet era, regardless of sport, every country can observe the highest-level playing styles. Information spreads rapidly today in ways unimaginable in the past."
"Nowadays, foreign coaches work in many countries—for example, Lorenzo Micelli, a skilled coach, leads Sweden's national team. These factors make every competition very challenging, requiring us to learn how to handle and compete effectively."
