Girls U18 World Championship draw
The draw for the pool phase, which took place at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel in Bangkok, was conducted by FIVB representative Ramon Suzara (Philippines) and FIVB Board of Administration member Shanrit Wongprasert. Hosts Thailand and the top seven FIVB ranked teams were seeded. The 20 teams were divided into four pools of five, which will play round-robin preliminaries.
In Pool A, Thailand was drawn with European champions Poland, African champions Egypt, Pan-Am Cup champions Puerto Rico and Tunisia.
In Pool B, favourites China – who won silver at the 2011 tournament in Turkey – face up to Serbia, regional rivals Japan, Argentina and Greece.
In Pool C, highly rated three-time world champions Brazil will play USA, Dominican Republic, Algeria and Slovenia.
In Pool D, 2011 tournament winners Turkey, also have a strong group, comprising of European silver medallists Italy, South American champions Peru, Mexico and Chinese Taipei.
The tournament will take place in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, through July 26-August 4 and will feature a record 20 teams.
Pool A and C clashes will be held at Chartchai Gym, while the adjacent Liptapanlop Gym will host Pool B and D. Thailand faces Egypt in the opening fixture on July 26. The last-ranked team in each group after the preliminaries will be eliminated, with the top four teams advancing to the second round.
This year’s tournament will be the 13th edition of the Girls’ U18 World Championship, which is held every two years. Thailand has hosted the tournament twice previously – in 1997, and 2009.
Pool Composition
Pool A: Thailand, Poland, Egypt, Tunisia, Puerto Rico
Pool B: China, Serbia, Japan, Argentina, Greece
Pool C: Brazil, USA, Dominican Republic, Algeria, Slovenia
Pool D: Italy, Turkey, Peru, Mexico, Chinese Taipei
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