Thailand women's volleyball apologizes to Vietnam

Unnecessary controversies have arisen just before the kickoff of the first leg of the 2026 SEA V.Cup in Dong Anh, Hanoi, prompting the Thai Volleyball Federation President to address the matter.

Recently, the Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA) officially sent an apology to host Vietnam following controversial information regarding the organization of the first leg of the 2026 SEA V.Cup. This move came after certain statements and images from the Thai women's team sparked major disputes just days before the tournament began in Dong Anh, Hanoi.

Right after arriving in Vietnam for the 2026 SEA V.Cup, the head coach of the Thai team, Mr. Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai, expressed dissatisfaction because the Thai team had to travel a considerable distance from the hotel to Dong Anh. Additionally, some articles in Thai media reported that Sasipapron Janthawisut and her teammates were provided with substandard training balls, leading to questions about the host's organization.

The Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) later explained that the Thai team's long travel time on the first day was mainly due to the journey from the airport to the hotel. After the schedule was stabilized, the travel distance was no longer an issue, and Thai team members confirmed they had no further problems.

Regarding the image of an old ball that appeared on social media, a VFV representative affirmed that it was a ball used by the young team of HCĐG Lao Cai in the training area, not a ball provided by the organizing committee to the teams. The VFV also emphasized that all official balls used for training and competition were new and met international standards.

After verifying the situation, the President of the Thailand Volleyball Association, who also serves as the President of the Southeast Asian Volleyball Association, Mr. Somporn Chaibangyang, sent an apology to Vietnam. He expressed regret over the inaccurate statements and information appearing in the media, and affirmed that he would sternly remind the Thai women's team for behavior that negatively affects the image of Southeast Asian volleyball.

The first leg of the 2026 SEA V.Cup will kick off on July 31 with the first match between Thailand and Indonesia at 16:00, followed three hours later by Vietnam's opening match against the Philippines.