Lausanne, September 12, 2008 – The two remaining places available to Asian teams in the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix will be up for grabs through October 1-7 at the Asian Women’s Cup Volleyball Championship, which doubles up as the Asian qualification round for FIVB’s premier annual women’s tournament. Japan, China, bronze medallist at the recent Beijing Olympic Games, Korea, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia and hosts Thailand will compete in the event. With Japan and China already qualified for next year’s World Grand Prix, the top two teams besides these two will advance. There will be 12 participating teams next year in the World Grand Prix with the tournament scheduled for a four-week period in July and August. The Preliminary Rounds are set for July 31 to August 16, including a stop in Brazil for the first time, and the Final Round from August 19-23 in Tokyo, Japan. The 2009 World Grand Prix Asian qualification round is part of the inaugural Asian Men’s and Women’s Cup Volleyball Championship at The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima’s MCC Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. The men’s event runs through September 20-26, with Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Iran, Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand competing. The press conference for both tournaments took place earlier this week at the competition hall, with Thailand Permanent Secretary for Interior and Thailand Volleyball Association President Pongpayome Wasaphuti presiding. Also present in the meeting were TVA Vice President Somporn Chaibangyang and TVA Advisor Kij Prukcha-oom. "I dare say that Volleyball fans will be pleased with thrilling matches of teams which almost have a similar standard. A total of 14 matches in the men's event and 17 in the women's competition will be telecast live," said Pongpayome, adding that the UBC True channel will have daily live coverage of the Thai matches from 4 to 6 p.m. |
