The Asian Quarter Tryout, introduced for the first time in Korean professional volleyball history, was completed smoothly.
The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) held the 2023 men’s Asian quarter tryout and draft at Jeju Halla Gymnasium and Jeju Sun Hotel from the 25th to the 27th. On the 21st, the women’s division first drafted, and on the 27th, the men’s and women’s tryouts ended with the selection of the managers of the 7 men’s clubs.
The Asian quota is the first system introduced since the launch of the V-League in 2005. This is to increase the efficiency of the club’s player management and to arouse interest in the league through the participation of players of various nationalities. In addition, profits can be expected through the sale of overseas broadcasting rights in the Asian market, and foreign players attending domestic schools can be given opportunities to continue their careers as domestic players.
The women’s division opened the draft non-face-to-face without separate tests in consideration of players who had difficulty participating in practice matches during the tryout period due to national team and club schedules. 23 players from 6 countries applied and knocked on the door of the V-League.
All seven clubs in the women’s division nominated players without exception. IBK Industrial Bank of Korea chose Phonpun Gedpard (30, 173cm), a setter from Thailand who received the first nomination and was considered the biggest fish. The remaining six clubs also nominated players to strengthen their weak positions.
For the men’s division, 24 players from 7 countries applied. On the 25th and 26th, they checked their skills through two evaluation matches at Jeju Halla Gymnasium, and on the 27th, they gathered together at the Jeju Sun Hotel to be selected by 7 men’s clubs.
The coaches and coaching staff of the 7 men’s clubs, who were on the lookout for the first Asian quota player, held several meetings and were careful. An official from the club expressed expectations, saying, “The skills of the players are better than expected.” 스포츠토토
The players who met as competitors on the court gritting their teeth to show off their skills. However, when another player made a mistake, he showed a warm side by encouraging him. Off the court, they are not competitors, but have developed into friends who met through volleyball.
The stories of challenging the V-League were also diverse. Among them, the story of Bayar Saihan (25, 197cm) and Eddy (24, 198cm), a middle blocker duo from Mongolia, touched the hearts of the people involved in the field.
The two players came to Korea with the dream of becoming volleyball players in 2017 when they were in high school and entered Suncheon Jeil High School, a prestigious volleyball school. After graduating, Bayarsaihan went to Inha University and Eddy went to Sungkyunkwan University and jumped into the university league, and naturally, the goal of entering the V-League came up.