Thailand women’s national team entered the new era with a solid mix of veterans and young talent who will be looking to continue the tradition of brilliance pioneered by their six legends dubbed as the Fab Six.
VNL 2023
Thailand’s Magnificent Se7en
The Fab Six’s legacy holds strong with these seven strong women brimming with talent, energy, national pride and uncompromising commitment to claim the future for Thailand volleyball
Published 08:11, 21 Jun 2023
It was the group composed of Wilavan Apinyapong, Pleumjit Thinkaow, Nootsara Tomkom, Onuma Sittirak, Malika Kanthong and Hyapha Amporn, who were the most decorated athletes in Thailand’s volleyball history. The national team stars that became global superstars that we still celebrate to this day.
Now comes the next generation of stars headed by libero and captain Piyanut Pannoy, Thatdao Nuekjang, Hattaya Bamrungsuk, Pornpun Guedpard, Ajcharaporn Kongyot, Chatchu-On Moksri and Pimpichaya Kokram, whom we will simply call ‘The Magnificent Se7en’.
These seven women are storming with talent, ambition and charm that dominates the game and the fans’ hearts. Their boundless creativity on the court and their ever-present quest to reinvent themselves to stay at par with the evolution of the game will surely carve their names in the sport’s history.
The Captain and the Libero – PIYANUT PANNOY
"Paen"
Piyanut’s time has come to lead this year. Her promotion as captain was no surprise as she is one of the veterans whose skills on defense speak for itself. Her dedication and service throughout the years deserved that captain’s bar emblazoned across her jersey.
The Middles – Thatdao Nuekjang and Hattaya Bamrungsuk
"Nan" and "Toey"
Thatdao and Hattaya are not the tallest of middles, but both their timing on defense at the net are impeccable. Their presence in the frontline could hold against their rivals’ towering and fiercest hitters, and their contribution on offense is significant to the team’s success.
The Setter – Pornpun Guedpard
"Chompoo"
It may be hard to replace a legend setter like Nootsara, but Pornpun did an outstanding job of keeping consistency in their plays. After all, she learned from and played alongside Nootsara for many years. The distinct part of Pornpun’s game is her adeptness on defense and her own craftiness in calling the plays.
The Outside Hitters – Ajcharaporn Kongyot and Chatchu-On Moksri
"Pure" and "Bumbim"
Ajcharaporn and Chatchu-On came into the national team spotlight at a young age, the former debuted at age 17 and the latter at age 14. Being thrown in the fire at that age helped them handle game pressure. Now, they are one of the most fearless hitters in the game. They have power and they have an incredible range on offense.
The Opposite – Pimpichaya Kokram
"Beem"
Like Chatchu-On, Pimpichaya started at age 14. She also dealt with early stardom, but it is her calm personality that is what kept her grounded all this time. The ever-humble opposite though has a feisty arm swing that powers through the block. She stands out as she is highly capable of scoring in bulk.
Make sure to memorize their names and know what sets them apart from everyone else. These are The Magnificent Se7en.
Catch them on VBTV when they play on their home turf in Bangkok. The Magnificent Se7en and their teammates will face the Netherlands on June 27, Turkey on June 29, Japan on July 1 and Brazil on July 2, all at 20:30 local time (12:30 UTC).
