Thai Women's Volleyball Team Receives 14 Million Baht Bonus for Olympic Qualification

At 10:30 a.m. on September 3, 2025, at Government House, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Panchjaroenkul and Deputy Prime Minister Thongsak Thongsri led Thailand's women's volleyball team—2026 Asian Champions and historic Olympic qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Games—to meet Prime Minister Anuthine Chanyaveerakul and Interior Minister. The government, through the National Sports Development Fund, awarded more than 14 million baht in prize money following the team's championship victory. Participants included Charoern Warthanasiri, Vice-Chairman of the Thai Olympic Committee; Kaongsak Yodmani, Director of the Sports Authority of Thailand; Somphorn Chabangyang, President of the Thai Volleyball Association; and Air Chief Marshal Kiatipong Ratchtriang, the women's team head coach.

Tourists and Sports Minister Surasak stated that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, and the Thai Volleyball Association all extend gratitude to the Prime Minister for presiding over the award ceremony. He praised the team's achievement in winning Asia's top ranking and earning an automatic berth at the 2028 Olympics, noting that only 12 teams worldwide qualify for Olympic volleyball competition.

Somphorn noted that 40 years of planning led to this moment, with clear short, medium, and long-term development strategies producing capable athletes at international levels. He recalled that the team first aimed for the 2004 Athens Olympics but failed multiple times before finally succeeding on August 30. He emphasized the need to develop successive generations of athletes and thanked the government for the Prime Minister's Youth program, which supports grassroots youth development. Prime Minister Anuthine expressed great joy upon learning of the achievement.