SPORTS IN THAILAND
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Oct 2016
King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
BANGKOK, THAILAND - The Thais here are mourning the death of their beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the government proclaimed one year of mourning. For one month stores and bars were banned from selling alcohol and entertainments were prohibited. The people here wore black shirts and dresses as a gesture of grief for the 88-year-old departed monarch who ruled Thailand for 70 years.
King Bhumibol was a painter, musician, photographer, author, translator and sportsman. As a young sports enthusiast, Bhumibol had a great interest in firearms. He owned a carbine, a Sten gun and two automatic pistols, and he and his elder brother, King Ananda Mahidol, would practice target shooting at the gardens of the palace.
King Bhumibol was an excellent sailor and sailboat designer. It was evidenced by his winning a gold medal for sailing in the Fourth Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games in 1967, the predecessor of the Southeast Asian Games.
On April 19, 1966, Bhumibol also sailed the Gulf of Thailand from Hua Hin to Toey Ngam Harbour in Sattahip, covering 110 km in 17 hours.
Football is now considered by many as the most popular sport in Thailand and has overtaken Muay Thai in wide following. The Thai national football team has qualified and played in the AFC Asian Cup six times and reached the semifinals in 1972. Thailand hosted the Asian Cup twice, in 1972 and in 2007.
Thailand is considered the golf capital of Asia as the country is a haven for golfers from Japan, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and Western countries.
Golf is popular here not only among the rich but also among the middle classes and tourists. There are more than 200 world-class golf courses nationwide, and they are so popular that they hosted the world renowned PGA and LPGA tournaments, such as the Amata Spring Country Club, Alpine Golf and Sports Club, Thai Country Club, and Black Mountain Golf Club.
Thailand first participated at the Olympic Games in 1952, and has competed in every Summer Olympic Games, except in the US-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics. Thailand has also joined in the Winter Olympic Games since 2002.
Thai athletes have won a total of 31 medals (9 golds, 8 silvers, 14 bronzes) mostly in boxing and weightlifting. Thailand's most successful Games so far were the 2004 Games in Athens, where they won eight medals, three of them were gold.
The Thai boxers who won Olympic golds were featherweight Somluck Kamsing (1996), flyweight Wijan Ponlid (2000), lightwelterweight Manus Boonjumnong (2004), and flyweight Somjit Jongjohor (2008)
Thai professional boxers are also world class and the current world titleholders are WBA minimumweight champion Knockout CP Freshmart, WBA interim flyweight champion Stamp Kiatniwat, WBC strawweight champion Chayaphon Moonsri and WBA superflyweight silver champion Wisaksil Wangek.
Photo shows Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
Sun, 24 Nov 2024World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
Sun, 24 Nov 2024The message is clear – Asian Boxing Confederation remains united with the IBA
Sun, 24 Nov 2024OSCAR DE LA HOYA FOUNDATION HOSTS 25TH ANNUAL TURKEY GIVEAWAY FOR EAST LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY
Sun, 24 Nov 2024Life vs. Death: The Ultimate Ringside Showdown Immortalized in Pierce Egan’s Boxiana
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 23 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 284: TEAM MARK MAGSAYO CONFIRMS RETURN TO THE RING ON DECEMBER 14
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 23 Nov 2024RJP Boxing promotes in Bucana on Dec. 17
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Good Prospects at Minimumweight, Light Fly, Super Bantam and Super Feather in 2025
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 23 Nov 2024Filipino International Master Chito Danilo Garma is the new World Senior Blitz champion; Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat takes the bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 23 Nov 2024KAMBOSOS JR SIGNS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM
Sat, 23 Nov 2024INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2025 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5th
Sat, 23 Nov 2024Ring Master promotes in Calinan on Dec. 21
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024NP Bansalan boxing team in Matalam
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 Nov 2024New York, Minnesota Biggest Trade Gainers; Los Angeles Has the Rookie Draft Steal
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 22 Nov 2024