PHUKET: World-class women's beach volleyball returns to Phuket in November with the Swatch Phuket Thailand Open at Karon beach.
Sixty-one teams have already signed on and the competition for $190,000 in prize-money is expected to attract more than 80 teams, including the world's best top 25 pairs.
Four courts will be set up, including one for practice, and a stadium will be erected around the centre court. The closing stages of the tournament usually attract big crowds.
PTT is sponsoring a Schools Cup this year.
Top five pairs include Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta Da Silva from Brazil, Mistry MayTreanor and Kerri Walsh from the US, Chen Xue and Xi Zhang from China, Talita Da Rocha Antunes and Maria Antonelli from Brazil, and Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig from Germany.
Day One will involve a knockout to reduce the teams to a maximum of four per country. Admission is free. The event is costing about 18 million baht to stage.
This year's tournament is seen as a chance to test facilities and prepare for the Asian Beach Games that will be staged on Phuket in 2014.
Sixty-one teams have already signed on and the competition for $190,000 in prize-money is expected to attract more than 80 teams, including the world's best top 25 pairs.
Four courts will be set up, including one for practice, and a stadium will be erected around the centre court. The closing stages of the tournament usually attract big crowds.
PTT is sponsoring a Schools Cup this year.
Top five pairs include Larissa Franca and Juliana Felisberta Da Silva from Brazil, Mistry MayTreanor and Kerri Walsh from the US, Chen Xue and Xi Zhang from China, Talita Da Rocha Antunes and Maria Antonelli from Brazil, and Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig from Germany.
Day One will involve a knockout to reduce the teams to a maximum of four per country. Admission is free. The event is costing about 18 million baht to stage.
This year's tournament is seen as a chance to test facilities and prepare for the Asian Beach Games that will be staged on Phuket in 2014.
