The Vietnamese women's volleyball team's biggest rival trains in Japan just before participating in ASIAD 2026.

The Thai women's volleyball team's preparation plan for their medal quest at the 2026 Asian Games is slowly being unveiled, with a key focus being a training stint in Japan prior to the crucial regional competition.

According to information released on March 30, 2026, the Thai Volleyball Federation will officially contact Japan to arrange a short-term training camp, aiming to give the women's team the best preparation before embarking on their Asian Games campaign. This is considered a strategic move as Thai women's volleyball aims to compete for medals against strong regional rivals.

The Thai women's team's 2026 competition schedule is assessed as packed and challenging. It will begin with the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) around June to July, where the team can test themselves against world-class opponents. Immediately after that is the SEA V.League, with the first leg held in Vietnam and the return leg in Chiang Mai (Thailand). This is a regional tournament but still plays a vital role in maintaining form and testing team combinations.

Following the series of tournaments is the 2026 Asian Championship held in China – a particularly significant event as the champion will secure a direct ticket to the Olympics. This is seen as the Thai team's second major goal of the year, before concluding the season with the 2026 Asian Games.

Head coach Kiattipong Ratchatagriangrai shared that the coaching staff has made specific preparations for this critical phase. He stated that after the Asian Championship concludes, Thai Volleyball Federation President Somporn Chaibangyang and other leaders will proactively contact Japan to organize a training camp lasting 7 to 10 days. "We will carefully consider the timing to choose the most suitable period before the team directly enters the Asian Games," he emphasized.

In related developments, President Somporn Chaibangyang also revealed plans to assemble the squad after the Songkran holiday. Accordingly, domestic players will be selected based on their performance in the Thai National League, while overseas players will gradually join. By late April, over 90% of the squad is expected to be fully assembled, though some may return later in early May due to commitments in club finals in Japan, Korea, and the USA.

With thorough preparation and a dense competition schedule, the Thai women's volleyball team is demonstrating strong determination to make an impact on the continental stage in 2026.