The Thai women's volleyball star who once clashed with Bích Tuyền now shines in Europe

Outside hitter Pimpichaya Kokram had a remarkable first appearance representing her new team Vandœuvre Nancy in the French Women's Volleyball Championship.

On the evening of October 11 (local time), attacker Pimpichaya Kokram delivered a flawless debut for Vandœuvre Nancy, helping her team secure a 3-0 victory over Béziers in the French Women's Volleyball League (Saforelle Power 6). She was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match.

In her very first match, the Thai outside hitter showed outstanding performance by scoring 17 points, achieving a 48% attack success rate, along with one successful block.

The first set was balanced at the start, but Vandœuvre Nancy pulled ahead towards the end to win 25-20. In the second set, Béziers fought back fiercely, yet Pimpichaya and her teammates resiliently came from behind to clinch a 26-24 win.

In the final set, coach Emmanuel Foued’s team maintained steady performance, controlled the game, and finished the match with a 25-23 score, winning the match 3-0 overall.

Pimpichaya’s recent form has been very consistent, especially when playing for the national team. At the 2025 Women’s World Volleyball Championship, she led Thailand’s scoring chart with a total of 73 points. The Golden Kingdom team reached the round of 16 before losing to Japan.

Pimpichaya’s reputation is well-known among Southeast Asian fans, but she once sparked controversy with Vietnamese spectators. The incident began during the Vietnam vs. Thailand match in the first leg of the SEA V.League, when Pimpichaya made a save that the referee ruled as a floor touch.

After Thailand protested, the organizers reviewed a different camera angle and surprisingly overturned the decision, confirming the save was valid, causing Vietnam to lose points.

This incident caused much frustration, especially since Thailand was the host team. Pimpichaya’s image worsened in the eyes of Vietnamese fans, particularly when she responded on social media with the comment “I’m a woman,” which was perceived as mocking Bích Tuyền’s appearance. Facing a wave of criticism, Pimpichaya had to disable comments to avoid further trouble.