Bangkok: The Thai women's volleyball team has recently experienced a significant drop in their world ranking, falling to 23rd after a challenging week at the 2026 Women's Nations League in China. Despite high hopes and careful preparation, the team was unable to secure a victory in any of their four matches.According to Thai News Agency, the team, led by head coach Kiattipong Ratchatagriengkrai, faced a tough competition starting with a 3-0 loss to Serbia. This was followed by a narrow 2-3 defeat against host China and another 2-3 loss to Belgium, where they initially led 2-0. The week concluded with a 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic. These results earned the team only 2 points and placed them 17th out of 18 teams for the week, leading to their drop in the world rankings from 18th to 23rd.The team's performance in the first week has sparked discussions on social media. Star player Pimpichaya Kokram, who scored 63 points, could not lift the team to victory as the coaching staff struggled to adjust strategie s. The continued playing time for underperforming favored players has led to calls for the return of former head coach Danai Sriwacharamethakul. With the second week of the competition rapidly approaching on June 17th, the coaching staff faces the challenge of improving the team's performance and restoring their physical condition.The team has returned to Thailand to prepare for their upcoming matches at the Indoor Stadium Huamark from June 17-21. They are scheduled to compete against Ukraine, Bulgaria, Canada, and the Netherlands, with all matches set for 8:30 PM. Support from Thai fans will be crucial as the team aims to demonstrate their skills and regain confidence in the upcoming games.
