Asean teams have been invited to compete in the “Princess Cup” South East Asian Women’s U17 Volleyball Championship from May 13 to 17 in Nakhon Pathom

ASEAN teams have been invited to compete in the “Princess Cup” South East Asian Women’s U17 Volleyball Championship from May 13 to 17 in Nakhon Pathom, a warm-up tournament ahead of their participation in the 12th Asian Women’s U17 Volleyball Championship three days later at the same competing venue.

The Asian meet, which will be held at the Nakhon Pathom Municipality Gymnasium in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand from May 20 to 27 will serve as the Asian Zone qualifying tournament to decide top four teams to make the cut for the next year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s U18 World Championship, of which the host country has yet been announced.

The biennial Princess Cup invitational tournament has been hosted by Thailand for years. In the previous editions, teams invited included overseas clubs and unfancied national teams such as Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and India. The organisers just had their fingers crossed and hoped for the best that by competing in the tournament, the participating teams will be improving their tactics and techniques in leaps and bounds.

However, some few years ago, the rule and regulation for teams invited to the Princess Cup tournament have been changed. Two years ago, hosts Thailand organised the Princess Cup tournament in coincidence with the South East Asian Women’s U19 Championship in Si Sa Ket. This time, teams invited for the Princess Cup invitational tournament will be contested under the South East Asian Women’s U17 Championship in Nakhon Pathom.

According to AVC Secretary-General Mr Shanrit Wongprasert, the “Princess Cup” South East Asian Women’s U17 Championship will be held with an aim of allowing the lower-ranked teams chances of sharpening their skills ahead of  their participation in the Asian Women’s U17 Championship, which is due to be held at the same venue between May 20 and 27.

“A daunting task awaits all these teams in the Asian meet. By contesting the “Princess Cup” South East Asian Women’s U17 Championship, they will gain valuable competition experience which can become a good asset for their tougher task in the Asian meet. They can make it their final tune-up match ahead of the top-notch Asian Championship.” said Mr Shanrit.

He added that around 6-8 teams are expected to join the Princess Cup tournament and just three days later, they will next go up much stronger rivals in the Asian U17 Championship.