Located in southern Thailand, 800 kilometres from Bangkok, Phuket is the country's largest island. The province also includes another 32 smaller islands, all situated on the Andaman Sea. A mountainous island, Phuket is a major hub for tourism and popular for its beaches and beautiful sunsets.
Phuket to welcome world's most talented U19 and U21 beach volleyball athletes
Phuket will welcome the FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships from December 6-11 and the U21 World Championships just a few days later from December 14 to 19.
The two competitions will see international beach volleyball return to Thailand after Satun hosted FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour events in 2018 and 2019 and Udonthani City welcomed the U21 World Championships in 2019. Phuket also hosted several international events from 2005 to 2013.
The 2019 edition of the U21 World Championships featured victories for Brazilian pairs in both the men's and the women's competitions. Rafael Lima and Renato Lima claimed gold in the men's and Vitoria De Souza and Victoria Lopes defeated Mariia Bocharova and Maria Veronica of Russia in the women's final. The winners of the 2018 U19 World Championships were Russian in both genders: Denis Shekunov and Dmitrii Veretiuk in the men's competition and Mariia Bocharova and Maria Voronina in the women's.