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Published on August 30, 2007

China as hosts gain an automatic place at the Olympics, but for the others it will be an arduous task. Among the 14 teams will be Iran, who will be participating for the first time in 38 years.

Thailand, Australia and Tajikistan are in Group A, while Group B consists of China, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Group C comprises Kazakhstan, Taiwan, Iran and New Zealand, while Group D has Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan and Indonesia. Only three teams will advance to the World 2008 Olympic qualifying tournaments.

The tournament will also serve as the qualifier for two other major tournaments - the World Cup and the World Grand Prix.

Only the top two teams from the championship, besides Olympics hosts China and Japan, will make it to the World Cup in Japan, where 12 teams compete from November 1 to 15.

The top two teams from the championship - again apart from China and Japan - will also book their places in next year's World Grand Prix.

"It will be a difficult mission," said Shanrit Wongprasert of the Volleyball Association of Thailand.

"Even if you finish in the top three in the Asian Championship, it does not mean you can take part in the Olympics. You have to take on other strong rivals in the Olympic qualifying tournaments, which include the World Cup. I think the Thai girls have a bright chance of advancing to those Olympic qualifying tournaments, but their chances are 50/50 to book a place in Beijing. If Thailand can play the same way as they did in the Asian Games last year, I'm hopeful that they can get either third or fourth place."

Thailand play Australia in the curtain-raiser match on September 5. The other opening matches see Vietnam take on Sri Lanka, New Zealand meet Taiwan, South Korea play Indonesia, Japan face Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan take on Iran.

Host broadcaster IEC in Sports, CCTV of China and Nippon TV of Japan will televise the Chinese and Japanese matches live, while Truesport and TITV will broadcast all Thai matches live from 3.30pm.

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

 The Nation