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Shanrit WongprasertBorn: December 16, 1943, Ratchaburi, Thailand
Enshrined: 2023 Country: Thailand Category: Leader |
BIOGRAPHY
Much of the advancement in both the indoor and beach versions of volleyball in Asia in general, and Thailand in particular, can be attributed to the impact of Shanrit Wongprasert, the first International Volleyball Hall of Fame inductee to ever come from the Southeast Asian country.
Wongprasert has done everything in his life at a high level. Born on December 16, 1943, he began playing in a nine-man system in middle school as a digger. In high school, in a more traditional six-player configuration, he was an outside hitter. While on the Thai national team, Wongprasert was a setter.
Having sufficiently caught the volleyball “bug,” Wongprasert stayed in the sport after his playing days ended, becoming a coach, at the university, club and then women’s national-team levels. But his administrative roles are where Wongprasert has made such an enormous impact.
He began as the secretary general of the Thailand Volleyball Association, spending 30 years there upon the completion of his coaching career. In that time, he served with six presidents and his work was recognized by the global movers and shakers early on. In 1992 the FIVB named him to its board of administration. Meanwhile, in addition to his volunteer work with the TVA and the FIVB, Wongprasert served as the secretary general and vice president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
Perhaps Wongprasert’s biggest contribution was generously sharing his vast knowledge with other Asian confederations and helping them with their programs, both in national team development and the conduction of zonal and continental championships. His unique ability to collaborate and coordinate with other federations facilitated the spread of these events to help grow the sport around the globe.
Wongprasert decided to step away from all of his administrative responsibilities at age 75. But he could not reject the overtures of the AVC president who named Wongprasert to the executive director position. In addition, he has been anointed as Honorary Life President of not one, but two organizations: the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA).
In a career that has not been short of accomplishments, in 2019, Wongprasert was awarded the Olympic Council of Asia’s Merit Award for his outstanding service to the development of sports in Asia. He has helped position volleyball in his native country to reach the next level.
For leaving an indelible mark in the sport of volleyball in his home country, his confederation and around the world, we are proud to induct Shanrit Wongprasert from Thailand, Leader, to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2023.
Wongprasert has done everything in his life at a high level. Born on December 16, 1943, he began playing in a nine-man system in middle school as a digger. In high school, in a more traditional six-player configuration, he was an outside hitter. While on the Thai national team, Wongprasert was a setter.
Having sufficiently caught the volleyball “bug,” Wongprasert stayed in the sport after his playing days ended, becoming a coach, at the university, club and then women’s national-team levels. But his administrative roles are where Wongprasert has made such an enormous impact.
He began as the secretary general of the Thailand Volleyball Association, spending 30 years there upon the completion of his coaching career. In that time, he served with six presidents and his work was recognized by the global movers and shakers early on. In 1992 the FIVB named him to its board of administration. Meanwhile, in addition to his volunteer work with the TVA and the FIVB, Wongprasert served as the secretary general and vice president of the Asian Volleyball Confederation.
Perhaps Wongprasert’s biggest contribution was generously sharing his vast knowledge with other Asian confederations and helping them with their programs, both in national team development and the conduction of zonal and continental championships. His unique ability to collaborate and coordinate with other federations facilitated the spread of these events to help grow the sport around the globe.
Wongprasert decided to step away from all of his administrative responsibilities at age 75. But he could not reject the overtures of the AVC president who named Wongprasert to the executive director position. In addition, he has been anointed as Honorary Life President of not one, but two organizations: the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) and the Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA).
In a career that has not been short of accomplishments, in 2019, Wongprasert was awarded the Olympic Council of Asia’s Merit Award for his outstanding service to the development of sports in Asia. He has helped position volleyball in his native country to reach the next level.
For leaving an indelible mark in the sport of volleyball in his home country, his confederation and around the world, we are proud to induct Shanrit Wongprasert from Thailand, Leader, to the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, Class of 2023.
