{{short description|Thai volleyball player (born 1984)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox volleyball player | name = Wilavan Apinyapong<br>{{lang|th|วิลาวัณย์ อภิญญาพงศ์}} | image = Wilavan Apinyapong.jpg | fullname = <!-- if different --> | nickname = Give | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|6|6|mf=y}} | birth_place = Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand | height = 1.74 m | weight = 68 kg | spike = 294 cm | block = 282 cm | position = Outside hitter | currentclub = Supreme Chonburi | currentnumber= 10 | nationalyears= 2003–2021 (18 years) | nationalteam = Thailand | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Women's Volleyball}} {{MedalCountry | {{THA}} }} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}} {{MedalSilver| 2018 Jakarta/Palembang| Team}} {{MedalBronze| 2014 Incheon| Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Championship}} {{MedalGold| 2009 Hanoi |}} {{MedalGold| 2013 Nakhon Ratchasima |}} {{MedalSilver|2017 Biñan |}} {{MedalSilver|2019 Seoul |}} {{MedalBronze| 2001 Nakhon Ratchasima |}} {{MedalBronze| 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima |}} {{MedalBronze| 2015 Tianjin|}} {{MedalCompetition|Asian Cup}} {{MedalGold| 2012 Almaty |}} {{MedalSilver| 2010 Taicang|}} {{MedalBronze| 2008 Nakhon Ratchasima|}} {{MedalBronze| 2016 Vĩnh Phúc|}} {{MedalBronze| 2018 Nakhon Ratchasima|}} {{MedalCompetition|Southeast Asian Games}} {{MedalGold| 2001 Kuala Lumpur | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2003 Hanoi | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2005 Manila | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2009 Vientiane | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2011 Palembang/Jakarta | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2013 Naypyidaw | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2015 Singapore | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2017 Kuala Lumpur | Team}} {{MedalGold| 2019 Philippines | Team}} }}
'''Wilavan Apinyapong''' ({{langx|th|วิลาวัณย์ อภิญญาพงศ์}}; RTGS: Wilawan Aphinyaphong, born June 6, 1984) is a Thai professional volleyball player who plays for Azerbaijan Club Igtisadchi Baku in the Azerbaijan Super League and the Thai National Team as an Outside Hitter.<ref name="FIVB - 28Aug2011 - Player's biography">{{cite web|url=http://www.fivb.ch/EN/volleyball/competitions/WorldGrandPrix/2011/Players.asp?Tourn=WGP2011&Team=THA&No=113916|title=Player's biography|date=28 August 2011|publisher=Fédération Internationale de Volleyball|access-date=5 November 2011}}</ref> She was the captain for the Thailand women's national volleyball team from 2008 to 2016 when Pleumjit took the captain role.
Apinyapong led the Thai team to win the first gold medal at 2009 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship and beaten China 3-1 for the first time in history. She again led the team to victory in the 2013 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship where she also received the MVP award of the event.
==Career== Apinyapong signed with the Spanish professional club IBSA Club Voleibol for the 2007–2008 season of the Spanish Superliga, playing with her countrymate Nootsara Tomkom.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=83192|title=El anfitrión Ibsa sueña con meterse en las semifinales|newspaper=Canarias7|agency=EFE|location=Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain|language=es|date=2008-02-06|access-date=2013-01-15|archive-date=2013-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015102331/http://www.canarias7.es/articulo.cfm?id=83192|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfevb.com/sfv/prensa/newsletter/2008/2008-25.asp|title=SFV: Previa de la décimotercera jornada de la Fase Regular|publisher=RFEVB|language=es|date=2008-01-24|access-date=2013-01-15|archive-date=2013-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014175524/http://www.rfevb.com/sfv/prensa/newsletter/2008/2008-25.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> For the next two seasons, she and some of her Thai teammates, such as Malika Kanthong, Amporn Hyapha signed with the Turkish club Ereğli Belediye and had a successful club career there.
In 2010, she signed with the Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande under coach Jenny Lang Ping. Along with the Olympics MVP Feng Kun, Yang Hao, Logan Tom, Jovana Brakočević. She was benched most of the time during the season because of the limitation on foreigner players were only two foreign players were allowed on the court.
Next season, she moved to another Chinese club team Fujian Xi Meng Bao and played alongside good friend Pleumjit Thinkaow and Chinese Olympics bronze medalist Xu Yunli.
The Thai team went on to finish in fourth place at the 2012 World Grand Prix, making it the best result for Thailand since 2002 as the Thai team participated for the first time. After winning the gold medal against China at the 2012 Asian Women's Cup Volleyball Championship, Apinyapong and her 6 other teammates signed for Igtisadchi Baku and helped the team to win the silver medal at the 2012–13 Azerbaijan Women's Volleyball Super League. They also qualified for the 2013/2014 CEV Women's Champions League for the very first time since the club was founded.
In 2013 she received the MVP award at the 2013 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship . She extended the contract with Igtisadchi Baku for one more year and was subsequently appointed captain. In late 2013, after winning the gold medal at 2013 Southeast Asian Games, Apinyapong said that she will not go to compete at the 2014 FIVB Women's World Championship because she is set to join the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, considering that she might have a chance to win at least one medal.
In 2015 she played with the local Bangkok Glass on loan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?article=5747|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201000946/http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?article=5747|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 1, 2016|title = BG in Vietnam : อะไรก็เกิดขึ้นได้กับลูกวอลเลย์ - บทความวอลเลย์บอล|date = 15 September 2015}}</ref> She also played on loan with Bangkok Glass in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?article=5747|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201000946/http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?article=5747|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 1, 2016|title = BG in Vietnam : อะไรก็เกิดขึ้นได้กับลูกวอลเลย์ - บทความวอลเลย์บอล|date = 15 September 2015}}</ref> She moved to the Vietnamese VTV Bình Điền Long An in 2017, playing on loan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?news=195052|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320222835/http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?news=195052|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 20, 2017|title = ลองอัน เซ็นยืม วิลาวัณย์ ลงตบ บิญดิง คัพ|date = 16 March 2017}}</ref>
She is on the list 2019 Korea-Thailand all star super match competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smmsport.com/reader/news/240860|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404135213/https://www.smmsport.com/reader/news/240860|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 4, 2019|title=ยืนยัน รายชื่อ-เบอร์เสื้อ นักตบศึก เกาหลี-ไทย สนามเทอร์มินอล 21|date=3 April 2019|publisher=smmsport.com|access-date=2019-04-04}}</ref>
After not qualifying to the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wilavan decided to retire after representing Thailand for 20 years, along with Nootsara.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Thais suffer yet another heartbreak|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/1834139/thais-suffer-yet-another-heartbreak|access-date=2020-07-01|newspaper=Bangkok Post|date=13 January 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=volleyballworld.com|title=Thailand's Fab Six: A legacy built on dreams and inspiration|url=https://en.volleyballworld.com/volleyball/competitions/vnl-2021/news/thailand-s-fab-six-a-legacy-built-on-dreams-and-inspiration|access-date=2021-08-07|website=volleyballworld.com|language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Apinyapong married Nattapong Kesapan, at Kham Sakaesaeng, Nakhon Ratchasima on 7 May 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?news=197707|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513173155/http://www.smmsport.com/reader.php?news=197707|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 13, 2017|title=ชื่นมื่น!วิลาวัณย์ควงแฟนหนุ่มเข้าวิวาห์,คนลูกยางร่วมงานแน่น|trans-title=I have a boyfriend to marry, a rubber ball to work together|publisher=SMMSPORT|date=7 May 2017|access-date=2 October 2017}}</ref> Apinyapong graduated from Bangkok University with a bachelor and a master's degree.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://hilight.kapook.com/view/90107|title=กิ๊ฟ วิลาวัณย์ อภิญญาพงศ์ ประวัติ กัปตันทีมนักวอลเลย์สาวไทย|publisher=kapook.com|date=17 October 2018|access-date=17 October 2018}}</ref>
== Clubs ==
* {{flagicon|VIE}} Vĩnh Long (2006–2007) * {{flagicon|THA}} Sang Som (2007–2008) * {{flagicon|ESP}} IBSA Club Voleibol (2007–2008) * {{flagicon|TUR}} Ereğli Belediye (2008–2010) * {{flagicon|THA}} Federbrau (2010–2011) * {{flagicon|CHN}} Guangzhou Evergrande (2010–2011) * {{flagicon|THA}} Chang (2011–2012) * {{flagicon|CHN}} Fujian Xi Meng Bao (2011–2012) * {{flagicon|AZE}} Igtisadchi Baku (2012–2014) * {{flagicon|THA}} Nakhon Ratchasima (2013–2015) * {{flagicon|THA}} Bangkok Glass (2015, loan) * {{flagicon|THA}} Supreme Chonburi (2015–2021) * {{flagicon|THA}} Bangkok Glass (2016, loan) * {{flagicon|VIE}} VTV Bình Điền Long An (2017, loan)
== Awards ==
===Individuals=== * ''2011 Asian Club Championship – "Most valuable player"'' * ''2013 Asian Championship – "Most valuable player"'' * ''2014–15 Thailand League – "Best scorer"'' * ''2014–15 Thailand League – "Best outside spiker"'' * ''2016 Asian Club Championship – "Best outside spiker"'' * ''2016 VTV Cup Championship – "Best outside spiker"'' * ''2016–17 Thailand League – "Best outside spiker"'' * ''2018–19 Thailand League – "Best outside spiker"''
===Clubs=== * 2006 Thailand League – 16px Champion, with Nakhon Ratchasima * 2010–11 Chinese League – 16px Runner-up, with Guangzhou Evergrande * 2012–13 Azerbaijan Super League – 16px Runner-up, with Igtisadchi Baku * 2013–14 Thailand League – 16px Champion, with Nakhon Ratchasima * 2015–16 Thailand League – 16px Runner-up, with Supreme Chonburi * 2016–17 Thailand League – 16px Champion, with Supreme Chonburi * 2017–18 Thailand League – 16px Champion, with Supreme Chonburi * 2018–19 Thailand League – 16px Runner-up, with Supreme Chonburi * 2017 Thai–Denmark Super League – 16px Champion, with Supreme Chonburi * 2018 Thai–Denmark Super League – 16px Champion, with Supreme Chonburi * 2019 Thai–Denmark Super League – 16px Champion, with Supreme Chonburi * 2009 Asian Club Championship – 16px Champion, with Federbrau * 2010 Asian Club Championship – 16px Champion, with Federbrau * 2011 Asian Club Championship – 16px Champion, with Chang * 2012 Asian Club Championship – File:Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Chang * 2015 Asian Club Championship – 16px Champion, with Bangkok Glass * 2016 Asian Club Championship – File:Med 3.png Bronze medal, with Bangkok Glass * 2017 Asian Club Championship – 16px Champion, with Supreme Chonburi * 2018 Asian Club Championship – 16px Champion, with Supreme Chonburi * 2019 Asian Club Championship – 16px Runner-up, with Supreme Chonburi
==Royal decorations== * 2013 – 80px Commander (Third Class) of The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant<ref>ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, [https://web.archive.org/web/20131106022214/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2556/B/022/1.PDF ประกาศสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่เชิดชูยิ่งช้างเผือก และเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันมีเกียรติยศยิ่งมงกุฎไทย ให้แก่นักกีฬาวอลเลย์บอลหญิงทีมชาติไทยและเจ้าหน้าที่] เล่ม ๑๓๐ ตอนที่ ๒๒ ข ๑๐ ตุลาคม ๒๕๕๖ หน้า ๑</ref> * 2010 – 80px Companion (Fourth Class) of The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn<ref>[http://www.siamsport.co.th/sport_volleyball/111014_277.html 20 นักตบปลื้มรับเครื่องราชฯทำคุณประโยชน์ด้านกีฬา]</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|Wilavan Apinyapong}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{succession box | before = {{flagicon|CHN}} Wang Yimei | after = {{flagicon|CHN}} Zhu Ting | title = Most Valuable Player of <br>Asian Championship | years = 2013 }}
{{s-end}}
{{Navboxes | title = Thailand squads | bg = #120763 | fg = #FFFFFF | list1 = {{Thailand squad 2003 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2004 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2007 FIVB Women's World Cup}} {{Thailand squad 2008 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2009 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup}} {{Thailand squad 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2010 FIVB Women's World Championship}} {{Thailand squad 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2011 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2013 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup}} {{Thailand squad 2013 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2016 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix}} {{Thailand squad 2018 FIVB Women's World Championship}} {{Thailand squad 2018 FIVB Women's Nations League}} {{Thailand squad 2019 FIVB Women's Nations League}} }} {{Igtisadchi Baku squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Apinyapong, Wilavan}} Category:Living people Wilavan Apinyapong Category:1984 births Category:Volleyball players at the 2006 Asian Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2010 Asian Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2018 Asian Games Category:Igtisadchi Baku volleyball players Wilavan Apinyapong Wilavan Apinyapong Wilavan Apinyapong Wilavan Apinyapong Wilavan Apinyapong Wilavan Apinyapong Wilavan Apinyapong Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games Wilavan Apinyapong Category:SEA Games gold medalists in volleyball Category:Volleyball players at the 2001 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2003 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2005 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2007 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2009 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2011 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2013 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2015 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2017 SEA Games Category:Volleyball players at the 2019 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2001 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2003 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2005 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2007 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2009 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2011 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2013 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2015 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2017 SEA Games Category:Medalists at the 2019 SEA Games Category:Outside hitters Category:Thai expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Thai expatriate sportspeople in China Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Spain Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Turkey Category:Expatriate volleyball players in China Category:Expatriate volleyball players in Azerbaijan Category:Thai expatriate volleyball players in Vietnam Wilavan Apinyapong Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in volleyball Category:Asian Games silver medalists in volleyball