Bangkok: The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) is boosting the Thai women's volleyball team to 17 million baht and is considering offering a special reward after they qualify for the 2028 Olympics.
According to Thai News Agency, the SAT is contemplating additional incentives for the team, which recently made history by securing a place in the 2028 Olympic Games for the first time. This achievement follows their victory over China in a thrilling 3-2 set match and marks their fourth win at the Asian Women's Volleyball Championship in 2026. Dr. Kongsak Yodmani, Governor of the SAT, emphasized the organization's role in supporting the team through the Sports Science Center, which provided essential resources like sports science teams and psychologists to ensure the athletes were prepared for high-stakes matches.
In the coming two years, the SAT is committed to assisting the team with preparation for competitions and training camps. While the National Sports Development Fund has already allocated prize money for their recent Asian Championship victory, discussions are underway about additional rewards for their historic Olympic qualification. The proposal will be submitted to the National Sports Development Fund for evaluation.
The team's remarkable performance has elevated their world ranking from 17 to 14, garnering widespread acclaim from both governmental and private sectors. The SAT and the National Sports Development Fund have already distributed 11,760,000 baht in prize money, which includes allocations for athletes, the coach, and the sports association. In addition, Pich Potharamik, a significant shareholder of JAS and MONO, is set to contribute a 5,000,000 baht bonus for the team's championship victory, bringing the total bonuses to 16,760,000 baht.