Hong Kong set for 3rd AVC Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup in Thailand
- Hong Kong’s senior women’s volleyball team has arrived Thailand ahead of their first international competition since 2019
- Head coach Kwok Kin-chuen said his team are ‘desperate’ for competition: ‘They are so aggressive in training these days’
Hong Kong senior women’s volleyball team will get their first taste of international competition in more than two years when they head to Thailand for the third AVC Women’s Challenge Cup.
Six teams, including hosts Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India and Uzbekistan, will participate in this year’s event, which gets under way in Nakhon Pathom, outside Bangkok, on Friday.
This will be the first international competition since 2019 for the Challenge Cup, which aims to elevate second tier volleyball teams in Asia.
Hong Kong are eyeing a top four spot or even claim their first-ever medal at an international competition.
With training and competition having been on pause thanks to the city’s tough Covid-19 stance, Hong Kong sides’ fitness will be tested. Head coach Kwok Kin-chuen said his team’s preparation had been disrupted.
“We planned some tactics and fitness training before Covid-19, but it did not go as expected,” Kwok said. “Fortunately, players have gotten back in condition after intensive training since April. They are now able to compete.”
Kwok said his charges were “desperate for competition”.
“They are so aggressive in training these days. We could see they have a clear objective, to become the final four in the Challenge Cup. I am sure that our players are confident of overcoming any challenges.”
Hong Kong captain Lam Chim-wing said her team were hopeful of a top-four finish.
“The level of teams is really close; hopefully, we could achieve the best result to prove we are at a certain level and build confidence for the postponed Asian Games in 2023,” she said.
Hong Kong will get their campaign under way at 6pm on Friday against the hosts, before facing Malaysia on Saturday and Singapore on Sunday.
Hong Kong squad: Michelle Cheung Hiu-nok, Thyllis Law Ho-fung, Fung Tsz-yan, Yick Wing-sum, Lau Ho-ting, Yeung Sau-mei, Lam Chim-wing (captain), Lo Mei-kei, Pang Wing-lam, Yu Ying-chi (vice-captain), Chan Ming-wai, Wong Sze-wing, To Wing-man, Ngai Kwai-ting.
