Pornpun makes volleyball history as first Thai MVP!
Thai talents continue to leave their mark on the global stage and the momentum shows no signs of slowing. This time, all eyes are on volleyball player Pornpun 'Chompoo' Guedpard, who earned Finals MVP and played a crucial role in leading the Orlando Valkyries to their first-ever US pro league title.
Before heading to the US for the 2025 season, the 32-year-old setter had already made her mark in top leagues across Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Romania and South Korea over the course of a decade. Now, in just her first year with this American professional volleyball team, she's etched her name in the record books by guiding the team to their first Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) crown.
But it wasn't just the title she secured – Pornpun also earned Finals MVP honours, thanks to her sharp playmaking and leadership on the court. With 37 assists and a team-high 12 digs, she emerged not just as a skilled setter but as the heart of the squad.
With this US league title, she now boasts seven national championships in her illustrious career, including five Thailand League titles and one in Indonesia. This achievement solidifies her status as a world-class volleyball player. Keep an eye on the Thai national team, as Pornpun could lead them to even greater success in the future.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Coco Gauff destroys Aryna Sabalenka with four-word response to bitter comment
Coco Gauff was in no mood to entertain Aryna Sabalenka's excuses after the Belarusian's comments following Saturday's French Open final at Roland Garros Coco Gauff was in no mood for messing around with Aryna Sabalenka after their French Open final. The American claimed her second Grand Slam title with a comeback win over the No.1 seed. Gauff came from a set down to win 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4 as Sabalenka struggled to deal with both the windy conditions and her emotions at Roland Garros. The No. 1 seed expressed her disappointment openly, remarking that she had played "terrible tennis" before doubling down in her post-match press conference, claiming that, had Iga Swiatek made it to the championship match, she would have won. Sabalenka had beaten the four-time champion in the semi-final on Thursday, handing Swiatek her first loss in the French capital in four years, winning 7-6 4-6 6-0. Somewhat bitterly, after collapsing against Gauff and hitting 70 unforced errors - having actually won a marathon 80-minute first set - she said: "If Iga would [beat] me another day, I think she would go out today and she would get the win." Unable to hold back her anguish, she added: "Yeah, it just hurts. Honestly hurts. I've been playing really well, and then in the last match, go out there and perform like I did, that hurts." Regardless of the tears and self-criticism from Sabalenka, Gauff remained unshaken. Graciously taking her seat as the tournament champion at her own post match press conference, Gauff was informed of Sabalenka's comments. But the newly crowned champion stood her ground, brushed off Sabalenka's remarks, declaring: "I mean, I don't agree with that." And then came the killer line: "I'm here sitting here." Gauff, 21, also referenced her recent dominating win over Swiatek at the Madrid Open. "Last time I played - no shade to Iga or anything, but I played her and I won in straight sets. Yeah, I don't think that's a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen. "Yeah, honestly the way Aryna was playing the last few weeks, she was the favourite to win. So I think she was the best person that I could have played in the final. "Her being No.1 in the world was the best person to play, so I think I got the hardest matchup just if you go off stats alone." If she had to choose, Gauff would have preferred to face Swiatek. However, after winning her second major title, what could have been was of little importance. Gauff believed that, no matter her opponent, she stood a good chance of winning, an attitude she carried into the match. "Obviously Iga being a champion here, it was going to be a tough match either way," the champ added. "But, yeah, I think regardless of who I played, I think I had a good shot to win, and I definitely had that belief," she explained. "If you asked me, honestly speaking to you guys who I wanted to play, it was Iga just because I felt Aryna was playing so good, and she was. "But also, Iga is a tough opponent too. So honestly, neither of them would have been the better shot. But, you know, it played out how it played out. Yeah, that's why I'm here today."
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Coco Gauff admits French Open win ‘wasn't pretty' after beating Aryna Sabalenka
Coco Gauff admitted her first French Open title win 'wasn't pretty' after she battled Aryna Sabalenka and the elements to reign on the Paris clay. The 21-year-old American, seeded second, came from a set down to beat world number one Sabalenka 6-7 (5) 6-2 6-4. A stiff breeze swirled around Court Philippe-Chatrier and contributed to a combined total of 100 unforced errors and 15 breaks of serve. It was Gauff who coped better with the conditions to add the Roland Garros title to her 2023 US Open crown. 'it was super tough when I walked on the court and felt the wind because we warmed up with the roof closed,' she said. 'I was, like, 'this is going to be a tough day', and I knew it was just going to be about willpower and mental. 'It really came down to the last few points, but overall I'm just really happy with the fight that I managed today. 'It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done, and that's all that matters.' NEW QUEEN OF PARIS 👑 #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2025 It was the first time the top two women's seeds had contested a Roland Garros final since Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova in 2013. Sabalenka edged a tie-break to win the opening set, which at 77 minutes lasted nine minutes longer than the entire match the last time Gauff was in the Roland Garros final, a chastening 6-1 6-3 defeat by Iga Swiatek three years ago. But at the start of the second Gauff inflicted a fifth successive break of the Sabalenka serve and finished it with an overhead Gauff was the more composed player by now and edged a break ahead in the decider, while Sabalenka moodily eyeballed her coaching team in the players' box. Sabalenka drew level at 3-3 but promptly double-faulted to give Gauff three break points, and she dispatched the first with another precise swish of her backhand. At 5-3 the 27-year-old Belarusian bravely held to make Gauff serve the match out. In keeping with the previous two hours and 38 minutes, a match point came and went, as did a break point. But when the second chance arrived and Sabalenka swung wide, an elated, tearful Gauff fell to the clay as she celebrated a stunning win. Sabalenka, a vivacious presence throughout the fortnight both in person and via her social media output, was an uncharacteristically ungracious loser. 'I mean, honestly sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame,' she said. 'Somehow, magically the ball lands in the court, and you're kind of on the back foot. 'It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like, 'let's see if you can handle this'. 'I was just making unforced errors. I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes, kind of like from easy balls.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Coco Gauff admits French Open win ‘wasn't pretty' after beating Aryna Sabalenka
The 21-year-old American, seeded second, came from a set down to beat world number one Sabalenka 6-7 (5) 6-2 6-4. A stiff breeze swirled around Court Philippe-Chatrier and contributed to a combined total of 100 unforced errors and 15 breaks of serve. It was Gauff who coped better with the conditions to add the Roland Garros title to her 2023 US Open crown. 'it was super tough when I walked on the court and felt the wind because we warmed up with the roof closed,' she said. 'I was, like, 'this is going to be a tough day', and I knew it was just going to be about willpower and mental. 'It really came down to the last few points, but overall I'm just really happy with the fight that I managed today. 'It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done, and that's all that matters.' NEW QUEEN OF PARIS 👑#RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2025 It was the first time the top two women's seeds had contested a Roland Garros final since Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova in 2013. Sabalenka edged a tie-break to win the opening set, which at 77 minutes lasted nine minutes longer than the entire match the last time Gauff was in the Roland Garros final, a chastening 6-1 6-3 defeat by Iga Swiatek three years ago. But at the start of the second Gauff inflicted a fifth successive break of the Sabalenka serve and finished it with an overhead Gauff was the more composed player by now and edged a break ahead in the decider, while Sabalenka moodily eyeballed her coaching team in the players' box. Sabalenka drew level at 3-3 but promptly double-faulted to give Gauff three break points, and she dispatched the first with another precise swish of her backhand. At 5-3 the 27-year-old Belarusian bravely held to make Gauff serve the match out. In keeping with the previous two hours and 38 minutes, a match point came and went, as did a break point. But when the second chance arrived and Sabalenka swung wide, an elated, tearful Gauff fell to the clay as she celebrated a stunning win. Sabalenka, a vivacious presence throughout the fortnight both in person and via her social media output, was an uncharacteristically ungracious loser. 'I mean, honestly sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame,' she said. 'Somehow, magically the ball lands in the court, and you're kind of on the back foot. 'It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like, 'let's see if you can handle this'. 'I was just making unforced errors. I think she won the match not because she played incredible; just because I made all of those mistakes, kind of like from easy balls.'
