Chinese volleyball trainers prepare Lao teams for SEA Games

Two volleyball coaches from China began training the Lao national men's and women's volleyball teams in Vientiane this month to prepare for the 25th SEA Games in December.

Lao national beach volleyball trainer, Mr Inthaphone Chengsavang, said the indoor and beach volleyball teams were selected from the best players at the eighth National Games in Champassak province last December.

The squads consist of players from Vientiane , the Ministry of National Defence and Xieng Khuang, Savannakhet and Champassak provinces.

Eighteen indoor volleyball players and six beach volleyball players will train at the indoor court in Huayhong village, Chanthabouly district.

The volleyball events at the SEA Games will be held at the Km 16 indoor stadium at Dongsanghin village, Xaythany district.

The Lao Volleyball Federation plans to organise national and international tournaments later this year, but still lacks adequate funding to host such events.

However, the federation will hold a national volleyball and beach volleyball event in Vientiane in July to select the final squads for the SEA Games.

Mr Inthaphone believes the beach volleyball team has a good chance of winning a medal at the games.

The national volleyball teams competed in the 22nd SEA Games in Vietnam in 2003 and at the 24th SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 but failed to pass the first round on both occasions.

By Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
February 04, 2009