JPN-THA world cup volleyball

Another episode of Volleyball talk. This is the third time already! whoo hoo!
(1st - World Volleyball Championship 2006,
2nd - World Grand Prix 2007)

Competed in Japan in 4 rounds against all other 11 participated national teams, the first top three from this tournament will automatically be given a spot to compete in Beijing Olympics next year. Today is the last day of the tournament, an unbeatable Italy and the U.S. already their tickets to the Olympics booked. The last one is yet to be known, but Japan already lost its seat. They will have to compete in the following qualification round next March.

What's special for the tournament this year is that it's the first time in the history that Thai National Teams are participating in this event. They performed very well in the Asian cup volleyball earlier this year and ended up with the bronzes. What's even more fascinating is that they were competing against the Japanese right here in Osaka! Of course, we went!!!

Thai National Team
Thai VS. Japanese
(made it very hard for me to cheer!! oops!)
8 of us were probably the only Thais there -"-
(we shouted really badly that our voices were nearly gone at the end of the game)
Starting the match
ready to receive
Spiking!
in the game
blocking!
Takeshita's very still setting
Broadcasting crews
Japanese Technology!

At the end, Thai lost 0-3 sets, but it was a really nice game. The second set was the best, Thai team lost only 25-27: very close call. Looking forward to the next matches!