Thailand capped a fantastic first week in the FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League in Ankara with a sensational triumph over mighty China on Sunday.
Playing their third five-setter in a row, Pimpichaya Kokram, Ajcharaporn Kongyot and their teammates came back from a set down to deliver a huge 3-2 (25-23, 13-25, 14-25, 25-23, 15-11) upset of a team ranked No.2 in the world and hand them their first defeat of the tournament.
"I would like to thank all the fans, the coaching staff, my teammates and everyone who is behind us for helping us play with such an amazing passion and attitude and win our last game in Turkey," an elated Ajcharaporn said after the match.
"Tonight we didn't play for ourselves. We played for our country and all Thai people who support us."
It was the Thais' first win over the Chinese in nine years.
Thailand finished the first week of the 2022 VNL edition with three wins and one loss.
Earlier, they had defeated Bulgaria and Serbia and lost to Belgium.
They are seventh in the overall standings in the 16-team contest with the top eight sides advancing to the next round after three weeks of preliminary round action.
Outside hitter Ajcharaporn, 26, scored nine points against China including some in key moments of the match.
But it was Pimpichaya who spearheaded Thailand's attacks for the most part of the match with the 23-year-old scoring the match-high 28 points.
In the second week, Thailand will play in the Philippines' Quezon City where they meet Canada, Poland, Japan and the USA.
The Thais begin their second-week campaign against Canada on June 14.
Meanwhile, Thai star Thatdao Nuekjang, who missed the game against China, has been ruled out for six to eight weeks due to injury, the team said.
Thailand captain Pornpun Guedpard said coach Danai Sriwatcharamethakul told his players before the match against China to "go out and fight for Nan [Thatdao]". volleyballworld.com/bangkok post