Kyoto, Japan, June 23, 2016 - Thailand are sure to play at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 Group 1 finals as hosts, but, as they meet Japan in Kyoto, will do their best to take revenge for that tie-breaker loss at the World Olympic Qualification tournament in Tokyo last month.
Head-to-Head
• Thailand won only two of their previous nine World Grand Prix encounters with Japan, both in five sets.
• At last year's World Grand Prix, Japan beat Thailand twice in straight sets.
• Their most recent meeting came at the World Olympic Qualification tournament last month. Japan won in five sets.
Japan
• Japan beat Germany 3-1 in their last match at the World Grand Prix. It was their second win at this year's competition after a 3-0 win against Serbia in their first match.
• Japan have not booked back-to-back victories in their last 17 World Grand Prix matches.
• Saori Sakoda is the second-best server in Group 1 coming into this weekend of play. She averages 0.43 per set, just behind Turkey's Nursevil Aydinlar (0.48).
Thailand
• Thailand booked their second victory at the 2016 World Grand Prix with a 3-2 win against Italy on 20 June.
• They have not won back-to-back in their last 29 World Grand Prix matches.
• Thailand have won successive World Grand Prix matches in five sets on only one occasion - the first two matches of the 2009 edition against Poland and Japan.
• Ajcharaporn Kongyot has scored 98 points so far in the competition. Only Russia's Nataliya Goncharova (120), Turkey's Polen Uslupehlivan (114) and Netherlands' Lonneke Slöetjes (112) have more in Group 1 coming into this weekend of play.
• Thailand currently have the best two receivers of Group 1 in the competition - Wilavan Apinyapong (55.8%) and Piyanut Pannoy (51.1%).