Sanest Khanh Hoa volleyball team determined to defend national championship

The national strong teams volleyball tournament 2021 will take place at the Ninh Binh Provincial Sports Center from December 14 to 25. Khanh Hoa News Thai Quang Lai, head coach of the 2020 defending champions Sanest Khanh Hoa, gave an interview to Khanh Hoa News. 

 

- Can you give some information about this year’s national strong teams volleyball tournament?

 

- This year’s national strong team volleyball tournament is named Bamboo Airways National Championship 2021. The tournament is sponsored by Bamboo Airways with double award compared to previous years. The tournament takes place at Ninh Binh Provincial Sports Center from December 14 to 25. This year's tournament has two points that are different from the previous ones, which are places of competitions and competition format.

 

 

The previous tournaments included 2 stages with 10 male teams divided into two tables of 5 and competing at 2 different places. This year, the second and final rounds are organized at 1 place due to COVID-19 outbreak. As for the format of competition, in the past, 5 teams of each tables competed in 2 rounds to decide the first-place and second-place teams of the tables for the finals; two bottom teams of each table competed to decide relegated teams. This year, 10 teams still play 2 rounds but will be ranked from 1st to 10th. After that, the first-place team will play the fourth-place team; the second-place team will face the third-place. The winner of the first pair will qualify for the final match; the winner of the second pair will compete for the third position. The 4 teams ranked from 7th to 10th will compete with each other to decide the delegated team. The new format is expected to encourage the teams to give their best in each match. 

 

- How has the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic affected the team's preparations and what solutions have the team implemented to maintain practice?

 

- The impacts of the pandemic have significantly affected the preparations of Sanest Khanh Hoa. The pandemic has surged again after the first round of (from April 12 to 17). The players had to practice separately at home from July 1. Additionally, financial difficulties of the team’s sponsor, Khanh Hoa State-owned Salanganes Nest One Member Company Limited, during the pandemic have also affected the life of the players. 

 

- With such difficulties, how has the team prepared to defend the championship?

 

- Sanest Khanh Hoa won 3 championships in 2008, 2017 and 2020. It is not easy to defend the title. Fortunately, the sponsor company and the provincial Sports Technique Training Center have created good conditions for the team. The team stayed at Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Guest House and were carried from the guest house to the training place by the company’s buses, which helped to ensure the health condition of the players.

 

Sanest Khanh Hoa resembled on October 18, practiced on the beach since then and practiced indoors from November 11. Except for the setter, the team’s line-up this year remains the same as the one which won the championship last year. 

 

- How do you rate the teams of this year’s tournament and the possibility of winning the championship of Sanest Khanh Hoa?

 

- Although having faced the difficulties caused by the pandemic, Sanest Khanh Hoa still have some advantages in the 2021 tournament. Specifically, the team won all four matches against The Cong, Border, Binh Duong, and Ben Tre in the first leg round 1, occupying the top spot. In round 2, Sanest Khanh Hoa are in the same group with Border, Hanoi, Ha Tinh, and Ben Tre. They need only two wins to top the table. Besides, amid the pandemic outbreak, it has been difficult for all teams to maintain practicing and training. Meanwhile, Sanest Khanh Hoa have six players called up for the national volleyball team, which means these players have still been able to maintain their fitness and skills. What have concerned us is the minor shoulder injury of Tu Thanh Thuan, the current best volleyball player of Vietnam. We hope that Thuan can recover on time to join the team.

 

The leaderships of Khanh Hoa State-owned Salanganes Nest One Member Company Limited and the provincial Sports Technique Training Center had held a meeting to encourage us before we travelled to Ninh Binh Province on December 3. With our careful preparation and encouragement of the sponsor and the center, we are determined to defend the championship. 

 

- Thank you very much.

 

Hoang Nam

Translated by H.N