Thailand’s women’s volleyball team could soon have another reason to celebrate after their historic Asian Championship win secured a proposed government reward of 11.76 million baht.
The payout comes after the team pulled off a dramatic 3-2 comeback against hosts China in Tianjin on Sunday, August 30, and booked Thailand’s first-ever Olympic spot in women’s volleyball.
A Huge Win In Tianjin
The final was anything but straightforward. Thailand started strongly and took the opening set 25-20, but China quickly turned things around in front of their home crowd. The hosts dominated the second set 25-11 before edging Thailand 25-23 in the third to move one set away from the title.
Thailand refused to let the match slip away. Thailand bounced back in the fourth, taking it 25-18 and sending the match into a decider. The fifth set was tight, but Thailand held their nerve and closed it out, 15-10. The full score was 25-20, 11-25, 23-25, 25-18, and 15-10.
Fourth Asian Crown
The victory gave Thailand their fourth Asian Championship title, following previous wins in 2009, 2013, and 2023. They also successfully defended the title they won in 2023, when they defeated China in the final as well.
But the biggest part of the night was the Olympic qualification. By winning the championship, Thailand secured the direct Asian qualification place for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. It will be the first time Thailand’s women’s volleyball team has appeared at the Olympics. The achievement also marks Thailand’s first Olympic qualification in a team sport since the men’s football team competed at the 1968 Mexico City Games.
Players Set for 600,000 Baht Each
Now, the team is in line for a major financial reward under the National Sports Development Fund’s incentive scheme. The proposed package totals 11.76 million baht and covers the players, coaching staff, and Thailand Volleyball Association. However, the payment still needs approval from the fund’s executive board before it can be processed.
Each of the 14 players is set to receive 600,000 baht, giving the players a combined 8.4 million baht. The coaching staff is allocated 840,000 baht, while the Thailand Volleyball Association would receive another 2.52 million baht. Together, those amounts bring the proposed reward to 11.76 million baht.
A New Olympic Chapter
The reward proposal comes after a tournament that delivered several milestones for Thai volleyball. Setter Pornpun Guedpard was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Sasipaporn Janthawisut finished the final as Thailand’s top scorer with 28 points. Thatdao Nuekjang also made a major contribution with 18 points, including seven blocks.
With the Asian title secured and the Olympic ticket officially booked, Thailand’s women’s volleyball team will now turn its attention to Los Angeles 2028. For the first time, the Thai women will walk onto the Olympic volleyball stage, following a five-set win that ended decades of waiting for a team-sport Olympic qualification.
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