Thailand’s national federation announced a selection of 25 players to be counted on by new women’s national team coach Nataphon Srisamutnak for the start of the preparations for the 2024 international season, set to start in mid May with the Volleyball Nations League, whose Finals will be hosted by the south-eastern Asian country for the first time in history.
Continuity is guaranteed since most of the players who were part of the team during their successful 2023 season are back on the list for 2024. The only name missing among those who finished fourth at the Road to Paris Volleyball Olympic Qualifier in Poland in the fall is that of legendary 38-year-old setter Nootsara Tomkom. Another setter, Sirima Manakij, is the only player from the team that triumphed as 2023 Asian champions and took bronze at the 2023 Asian Games that is absent from the new roster.
Meanwhile, Nataphon’s line-up features plenty of young talent, with as many as five players under the age of 20 and another seven under the age of 25.
With the exception of athletes competing for foreign clubs, the team will get together on March 1 to undergo fitness tests.