Khon Kaen University (KKU) continues to bring pride to Thailand’s sporting community as its women’s volleyball team, operating under the KKU Volleyball Academy project and known as Team Thailand Queens, won the Second Runner-Up award at the 6th Tiger Cup National and International Club Championship 2026.
The tournament was held from 23–31 January 2026 in Nepal, and Team Thailand Queens was the sole representative from Thailand participating in this international competition.
The Tiger Cup is a highly regarded championship that attracts leading volleyball clubs from Nepal and international teams, competing under standards aligned with those of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). Throughout the tournament, Team Thailand Queens faced intense competition across both indoor and outdoor courts, demonstrating strong technical skills, tactical discipline, and cohesive teamwork, ultimately earning a place on the podium.
During their campaign, Team Thailand Queens competed in a total of five matches. Their opening match resulted in a narrow 2–3 set loss, attributed to the team’s initial lack of familiarity with the outdoor court conditions, having trained primarily in indoor dome facilities. The players quickly adapted, however, returning to claim victory in the second match with a score of 3–2 sets, followed by a decisive 3–0 set win in the third. In the fourth match, which moved indoors, the team suffered a 0–3 set defeat despite the extremely close play. They concluded the championship with a final match victory, winning 3–2 sets, which secured their third-place ranking in the tournament, officially designating them as the Second Runner-Up.
This achievement was further highlighted by the superb individual performance of Ms. Yaowapa Panyabut (known as ‘Nong Punch’), an outside hitter, who received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for one of the matches. Ms. Yaowapa stated that the competition provided invaluable international experience, noting the professional standards of the facilities, the high level of competition, and the friendship extended by international athletes.
“This has been a tremendously positive experience, and I am very proud to have competed abroad,” she said. “The environment was highly professional, and I learned many things, including adaptability, team communication, and the crucial skill of successfully saving the ball. This is a skill that requires time and dedication to master. This tournament also actively helped me improve my English communication skills through real-time use on the court.”
Regarding her MVP recognition, Ms. Yaowapa expressed deep appreciation to the KKU Volleyball Academy and Khon Kaen University for providing opportunities for international exposure. She noted that this experience has become a major source of motivation as she continues to pursue her ambition of becoming a professional volleyball player overseas in the future.
