Ajcharaporn: The Pure Mentality

Ajcharaporn Kongyot or Pure has come a long way in becoming bolder and braver, as she departs from being the team’s neophyte and turning into a true leader and motivator.

Pure is one of Thailand’s key players leading their Olympic qualification campaign and the outside hitter has expressed that they will fight with great strength and endurance, and a lot of perseverance, highlighting that they have nothing to lose as a team.

“The Paris Qualifier is challenging, truly demanding. However, we have nothing to lose. We must put in everything because it’s our first opportunity. If we succeed, it means we can secure our ticket to the Olympics,” the 28-year-old said.

“There nothing to lose for us, we are already the underdogs. We should just enjoy ourselves, show our best performance, take it point by point, match by match, solely for our sake.”

• Watch Ajcharaporn’s CLOSER TO PARIS full interview on VBTV.

After competing in the last three qualification cycles, she is aware that it is a tough task, but not an impossible one. And although losing is a possibility, it is not a deterrent to their careers as athletes.

Thailand are in Pool C in Lodz, Poland. They will compete against three-time VNL winners and reigning Olympic champions USA, 2022 VNL champions Italy, 2023 VNL bronze medalists and hosts Poland, Germany, Colombia, Korea, Slovenia from September 16-24.

“I am aware that this tournament is tough, but we must help each other as much as possible. Personally, I feel significantly less pressure because once we saw the draw, I just thought we had nothing to lose. We must give it a shot and give it our all. If we succeed, then it will be a complete victory for us. If we can’t then we must fight again. It’s not limited to this moment alone. It has transformed into a mentality that we have to persevere,” the outside hitter explained.

“I don’t believe that going to the Olympics is the sole determinant of our success. Going to the Olympics is an honor for us. If we achieve it, it signifies our reward. If we perform well, it aligns with what we have been waiting for and what we have planned. It matches the effort athletes invest in this tournament. However, if we are unable to make it, it doesn’t imply that our careers as athletes have failed.”

Accepting defeat has been part of their development as a team and having more compassion for each other in defeat has made them better individuals.

“We always remind ourselves to enjoy playing and give our all, without fearing defeat. I believe we have reached a certain level of maturity where we comprehend the reasons behind our victories and losses,” she shared.

“On days we experience defeat, we acknowledge our mistakes. Instead of blaming ourselves or each other, we encourage and reassure each other that everything is all right.”

Thailand did not reach the 2023 VNL Finals this year, but she mentioned that the results there should not hold the team back, as it is just the beginning of their journey towards the Olympic Qualifier.

“We have constantly discussed that the VNL is the starting point of this year since we have limited time together. It is important to utilize the VNL matches to fine tune our mistakes, moving steadily towards our grand goal of Olympic qualification.”

For her, the fans are very much part of their journey in achieving this Olympic dream. So, she wanted to send a message to their supporters.

“I want all the fans to be a source of motivation and continue sending their support to us because we will strive to fulfill our roles to the best of our abilities. I want everyone to feel encouraged and remain united as we progress towards this journey.”

VBTV Originals presents CLOSER TO PARIS, featuring Ajcharaporn Kongyot as the fifth in the slate of exclusive features of the world’s best stars sharing their thoughts and dreams on the road to qualification for the Paris Olympics.

Quick links:
Volleyball Olympic Qualifying Tournament
VBTV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Subscribe to Volleyball World's Newsletter