The Thai women's national team delivered the surprise in Group A of the preliminary phase, after convincingly defeating Sweden, led by former Bulgarian coach Lorenzo Micelli, with a 3:0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-22) victory. Thus, the hosts have already secured a place in the eliminations, while the Scandinavians and their stars - the Haak sisters, remain without a chance to advance and will play out the tournament for honor on Tuesday.
Group A Standings
| Rank | Team | Matches Won | Points | Set Ratio | Point Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand | 2 | 6 | 6.000 | 1.373 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 2 | 5 | 3.000 | 1.388 |
| 3 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 0.333 | 0.822 |
| 4 | Egypt | 0 | 0 | 0.166 | 0.618 |
Thailand and the Netherlands are now out of reach for their opponents. Sweden and Egypt will say goodbye after the group stage, with the Scandinavians leaving with a bitter taste of a missed opportunity.
Statistics from the match Thailand " Sweden
| Statistics | Thailand | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 53 | 39 |
| Block | 4 | 7 |
| Serve | 5 | 2 |
| Opponent errors | 13 | 12 |
| Total points | 75 | 60 |
Thailand showed greater efficiency in attack (53:39), while Sweden tried to compensate with blocks (7:4). However, the hosts' serving made the difference and helped control the match.
Individual performances
| Name | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| K. Pimpichaya (No. 16) | Thailand | 23 |
| I. Haak (No. 10) | Sweden | 25 |
| N. Thatdao (No. 5) | Thailand | 11 |
| A. Haak (No. 17) | Sweden | 10 |
Although Isabel Haak finished as the top scorer with 25 points, it was not enough for success.
Pimpichaya Kokpong was Thailand's leader with her 23 points, and middle blocker Thatdao Nuekjang contributed steadily with 11. The distribution of attacks and balanced defensive play secured the hosts' success.
