THAI TALENTS JOIN TOP BEACH VOLLEYBALL ATHLETES
BANGKOK, May 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After the conclusion of the inaugural Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Tour - Manila Open 2018, the tour makes its next stop at the Thai capital of Bangkok this weekend. Taking place at the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang, from 10 to 13 May, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour - Bangkok Open 2018 will round out the three-city tour organised and promoted by E-Plus Global Sdn Bhd.
With representation from 21 countries, the weekend will also include strong representation from the host nation with eight teams, including the weekend's top seeds and Langkawi Open 2018 bronze medallists, Nuttanon Inkiew/Sedtawat Padsawud (Thailand, THA). The pair can expect stiff competition from Manila Open 2018 men's champions, Max-Jonas Karpa/Milan Sievers (Germany, GER).
Amongst the women, Japanese duo Ayumi Kusano/Takemi Nishibori (Japan, JPN) will be hoping to carry the momentum of their gold-medal winning form from Manila into this weekend. Also present are Cuban top-seeds Leila Consuelo Martinez Ortega/Mailen Deliz Tamayo (CUB) and last weekend's bronze medallists, Paula Soria Gutierrez/Maria Belen Carro Marquez de Acuna of Spain. The host nation is also well represented with Pronsuda Kritsana/Yodsaphat Pakham, Anchan Changkham/Chantira Khanok and Saowaros Tangkaeo/Jiraporn Sonsupap.
Andrew Ching, Chief Executive Officer of E-Plus Global, commented, "It is amazing to bring the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour to this vibrant city of Bangkok, the second time we have brought an international beach volleyball tournament into the heart of a city. Beach Volleyball is also very popular and experiencing enormous growth here in Thailand, and it is great to see the eight teams that will be carrying the flag for the host nation. We will also be having the two champions from the Manila Open 2018 here this weekend, which will give fans and beach volleyball enthusiasts a lot to look forward to."
The weekend's competition will commence with the qualification matches on Thursday (10 May) followed by the first pool phase on Friday (11 May). The Round of 12 and quarterfinals will take place on Saturday (12 May) with the semi-final and medals-decider matches on the final day, Sunday (13 May).
