THE KING WITH THE MIDAS TOUCH ON SPORTS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 17 Oct 2016
BANGKOK, THAILAND - We were stranded here at the Thai capital because our Philippine Airlines flight was cancelled due to typhoon Karen. Still hugging the media is the passing of the well-loved Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
On the Bangkok Post an article was written by Wanchai Rujawongsanti entitled "The monarch with Midas touch remembered." It recounted how King Bhumidol inspired a large number of athletes, mostly boxers, to win their fights.
In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Thailand had a formidable boxing squad which included Somjit Jongjohor, Manus Boonjumnong, Worapoj Petchkoom and Suriya Prasarthinphimai and coached by Cuban mentor Juan Fontanils. During the course of the competition, the team received a message from the King wishing them success.
"The King's message gives me power," Manus was quoted by Wanchai, before his light-welterweight final against Cuba's Yudel Johnson. The inspired Manus surprisingly defeated Johnson 17-11 to win the gold medal.
"I dedicate the gold medal to the King," Manus said after the bout as he led the 2004 Athens Thai boxing team in the most successful Olympics as they took home three medals via Manus'gold, Worapoj's silver and Suriya's bronze.
Four years later, in Beijing in 2008, Somjit was determined to improve his disappointing Athens campaign.
Somjit trained rigorously and at the same time looked for "divine help" as inspiration. The management gave each member of the boxing squad an amulet but Somjit also had his own sacred object.
"Somjit had an amulet with the King's image in the monkhood known in Thai as the Nai Luang Song Phanuak amulet," wrote Wanchai on the Bangkok Post.
When asked why he chose such amulet Somjit replied: "The King is already holy -- he is even holier in the monkhood."
Somjit dominated Cuba's Andry Laffita 8-2 to win the flyweight gold in the finals.
King Bhumidol personally witnessed pro boxer Pone Kingpetch fought world flyweight champion Pascual Perez of Argentina on April 16, 1960 at the Lumpini stadium in Bangkok.
Pone defeated Perez and became Thailand's first world boxing champion and the King congratulated him in the royal box.
"I was so happy that I cried," Pone was quoted by the report.
Pone lost his flyweight belt to Fighting Harada in Japan in 1962 but was granted a rematch at Bangkok's Gymnasium 1 the next year.
It was reported that "Pone was trailing Harada after six rounds. His cornerman then told Pone that the King had just arrived at the venue.
The news boosted Pone's confidence as he fought harder and beat the Japanese on points after 15 rounds to regain the crown."
Even when the monarch was hospitalized he still gave his support for the Thai athletes. In 2014, the King was admitted at the Siriraj Hospital when he watched the Thai national football team play Malaysia on TV in the second leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final in Kuala Lumpur.
Having won 2-0 in the first leg in homecourt in Bangkok, the Thais were still lagging behind 0-2 at half-time in Malaysia.
"According to his doctor Prof Udom Kachintorn, the King asked his private secretary to phone the Thai team to tell them that he was watching the match on TV," Wanchai wrote.
With the King's encouragement, Thailand rallied and even if they lose 2-3 that night they won 4-3 on total points. The success finally ended Thailand's 12-year title drought in the Southeast Asian tournament.
"Brilliant," Dr Udom quoted the King's comment after the successful match which he motivated.
Photo shows Somjit Jongjohor with his 2008 Olympic boxing gold medal.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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