Thailand’s taekwondo star Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit was handed the “best female amateur athlete of the year” award by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday. She was being honoured for bringing home a gold medal from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
Her head coach Choi Young-Seok also won the “most valuable person” award.
Paphangkorn “Patty” Tavatanakit, 22, won the “pro-athlete of the year” award for winning her first LPGA Major championship at the ANA Inspiration 2021 in California earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Nattapol Saenkla received the best Muay Thai fighter award.
Applauding the fact that Muay Thai has been fully recognised as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Prayut said his government will work on making the sport more widely recognised on both domestic and international fronts. He also said the government will try to get Muay Thai included in the 2028 Olympics to be held in Los Angeles.
A ceremony celebrating Thai athletes and sports personnel is held every year on National Sports Day on December 16, with 39 awards in 13 categories being handed out.
His Majesty King Rama IX won a gold medal for sailing at the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games (now the SEA Games) on December 16, 1967, and the date has been marked as National Sports Day since 1986.
This year’s event was held at the Bangkok Indoor Stadium in Hua Mak. Also attending was Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.
Four star players – Pornanong Phatlum, Prayad Marksaeng, Gunn Charoenkul and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras have signed up for The Final Chapter 2021, the season-concluding TrustGolf Tour which runs between December 28-31 at the Aquella Golf and Country Club in Phang Nga.
Former LPGA top 30 player Pornanong will make her first appearance in the Bt5 million Thailand Mixed event, a warm-up before she re-joins the LPGA Tour in January.
“I made a decision to enter this tournament not only to sharpen my skills before the LPGA in 2020 but also to socialize with fellow players. It will be fun as I’ve never competed in this type of format before,” said the 32-year-old who cracked the world top 30 in 2014.
While the windy condition at the Aquella is likely to upset the apple cart for many players, Pornanong believes she can deal with it with experience from playing in the Bahamas where the course is situated near the sea.
Star Players from Big Tours to Feature at The Final Chapter 2021
“I have some good results in the Bahamas before. I’m quite familiar with the winds. I love challenge,” added the 2018 Women’s British Open runner up who has been working with Chris Mayson, a coach of fellow LPGA stars Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, for three months.
“I’ve adjusted my swing and it paid off. I did well in my last LPGA (Pelican Women’s Championship where she finished tied sixth, her best finish of the year). I believe I can produce some good results in 2022 and hopefully will get back to the top 30 again,” added the two-time Ladies European Tour winner.
Fellow LPGA player Pannarat whose best finish in the tournament was at tied sixth in the second edition in April hopes to make an impact as she makes her third attempt on the tour.
“I will be well prepared for the tournament and I’m quite confident with my game. I’ve been working on my approach shots and hope to produce a good result,” said the 23-year-old from Roi Et. Phang Nga-born Gunn, just returning from the Japan Golf Tour, will be routed by local fans to triumph on homersoil. The 29-year-old should have edge over others at the Aquella where he used to play when it was still known as Tai Muaeng course while growing up.
“I’m quite familiar with this course and I’m glad to play in a home tournament,” said Gunn who lifted up two back-to-back titles on the Thai PGA Tour last year.
However, a finger injury may hamper him from his A game in his return to the TrustGolf Tour for the second time.
“The injury is picking up. I’m more than 80 per cent ready. I hope to finish in the top 3 but that means my putting game has to be great,” added Gunn who barely entered Thai events this year die to his busy schedule in Japan.
Three-time Japan Senior Tour Order of Merit winner Prayad will be launching his second attempt in the mixed event. He participated in the inaugural episode at the Black Mountain Golf Club and then departed Thailand for the Japan Senior Tour where he settled at fifth this season.
“It’s good to be back in the event as there are a lot of good male and female players. It proves that our country has many up-and-coming players. Playing this tournament will help sharpen my game for 2022,” said the 55-year-old Prayad, also a 10-time Asian tour champion.
The tournament which pits the men and women against one another will be staged under strict protective protocols against COVID-19. ATK Swap test is provided for players, personal caddies, player’s company and officials. Only those who test negative are permitted to participate in the tournament. Furthermore, fans who produce negative ATK results within 72 hours before the tournament are welcome at the course.
Viewers can watch live streaming of the Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf on AISPLAY APP, https://www.facebook.com/trustgolfclub and at TrustGolf Youtube channel from 9am onwards during tournament days.
The Thailand Mixed is organised by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology, It is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm Company, Bond Holdings, AISPLAY, Bridgestone, Trust Pharmacy, Trust Live Streaming, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Aquella Golf and Country Club and S.Khonkaen.
The Thai National Team kicked their way into the semi-finals of the AFF Championship after beating the Philippines 2-1 on Tuesday. Captain and forward Teerasil Dangda scored two goals for the team and became the all-time top scorer of the competition with 19 goals.
Thailand will now lock horns with Singapore on Saturday at 7.30pm in the last game of the group, which will decide which team grabs first place in this stage.
Manchester United announced on its website on Tuesday morning that the English Premier League fixture at Brentford FC, at 7.30pm, has been postponed and will be rescheduled in due course.
The team said that following the confirmation of positive Covid-19 test results among the first-team staff and players, the outbreak requires ongoing surveillance. It said the decision was taken to close first-team operations at the Carrington Training Complex for 24 hours to help minimise the risk of further infection, and individuals who tested positive are isolating in line with Premier League protocols.
“Given cancellation of training and disruption to the squad, and with the health of players and staff the priority, the Club requested the match to be rearranged. The Premier League Board took the decision to postpone based on guidance from medical advisors,” the team announced.
However, Manchester United said that it regrets the inconvenience caused to Brentford FC and to the fans of both clubs by Covid-19.
Five Thailand Mixed winners have confirmed to launch their actions in The Last Chapter 2021, the season-ending event of the TrustGolf Tour which is due between December 28-31 at the Aquella Golf and Country Club in Phang Nga.
Two-time victor Prom Meesawat, inaugural champion Arpichaya Yubol, Chapchai Nirat, co-winner with Prom in the second circuit in Chiang Mai and amateur Ramil Saelim hope to repeat their feat in the fifth and final TrustGolf Tour event in 2021 which offers the highest prize money of Bt5 million.
Prom who won the previous edition which marked him as the only multiple Thailand Mixed winner hopes to carry on his momentum into the finale and end up his year on a high note.
“I’m thrilled to play the tournament at the Aquella for the first time. Judging from the weather condition when I played in Phuket (several weeks ago), the winds will be a challenge. Anyone who can adjust to the course condition better will have the advantage,” said the 37-year-old Prom who will be joined by star players including Jazz Janewattananond, Gunn Charoenkul as well as LPGA players Pornanong Phatlum and Wichanee Meechai.
“We have such a great line-up including Jazz who is back to play in a local tour. This will serve up as a great excitement for fans,” Porm said.
His close friend Chapchai who shared the title with him at the Alpine Golf Resort in April (due to poor visibility at play-off ) craves for additional trophy for his cabinet at the Aquella.
“It’s the last tournament of the year, so I would love to be the last man standing. The course is not long but the windy condition will cause some trouble,” said the 38-year-old Chapchai from Phitsanulok. Arpichaya, the only female winner when she won the inaugural edition at the Black Mountain Golf Club in February, is excited to tee off at the new course for the first time.
“This will be the first competition for the course which is beautiful and near the coast. Of course, it’s going to be windy down there,” said the 18-year-old Arpichaya.
“I don’t want to put myself under pressure by setting a particular goal. I’d rather learn playing and thinking strategies from the top players,” added the teenager who has collected three titles in 2021. Amateur Ramil, the tour’s youngest winner when he lifted up the title in the third circuit at only 16 in Phetchaburi two months ago wishes that he could play in the same group alongside his idols Gunn and Phornanong in The Last Chapter 2021.
“My dream group will feature Gunn and Pornanong. I’ve been watching Pornanong play since I was very young,” said the teenager.
“I’ve learned a lot of interesting techniques from the male and female pros in the previous tournaments. I have been practising hard and I cannot wait to compete again,” he said.
The tournament which pits the men and women against one another will be staged under strict protective protocols against COVID-19. ATK Swap test is provided for players, personal caddies, player’s company and officials. Only those who test negative are permitted to participate in the tournament.
Furthermore, fans who produce negative ATK results within 72 hours before the tournament are welcome at the course. Viewers can watch live streaming of the Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf on AISPLAY APP, https://www.facebook.com/trustgolfclub and at TrustGolf Youtube channel from 9am onwards during tournament days. The Thailand Mixed is organised by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology, It is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm Company, Bond Holdings, AISPLAY, Bridgestone, Trust Pharmacy, Trust Live Streaming, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Aquella Golf and Country Club and S.Khonkaen.
Man City stay on top of the English Premier League thanks to Sterlings 100th league goal.
Manchester City remain at the top of the Premier League despite making hard work of 10-man Wolves on Saturday lunchtime.
Pep Guardiola’s men had over 20 shots against their rivals, who were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of halftime when Raul Jimenez was sent off after being shown two yellow cards in under a minute. However, the only goal of the game came midway though the second half when Raheem Sterling scored from the penalty spot after a handball from Wolves midfielder Joao Moutinho.
Liverpool
It was the 100th Premier League goal in Sterling’s career and was enough to put the pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea, who both kicked off later, although both won their respective matches.
Mohamed Salah’s 67th minute penalty was enough to spoil Steven Gerrard’s return to Anfield as Aston Villa coach and give Liverpool a 1-0 win that keeps them second.
Salah scored after he had been fouled by Villa defender Tyrone Mings, but Gerrard can’t complain too much about the defeat as his side failed to get a shot on target all game.
There were three penalties in Chelsea’s dramatic 3-2 win at home to Leeds United, who were denied a point in injury time when the referee decided Mateusz Kilch had fouled Antonio Rudiger to allow Jorginho to score the winning goal from the penalty spot.
Raphinha had put Leeds ahead from the spot, only for Mason Mount to draw Chelsea level three before halftime.
Raphinha was then penalized for a foul on Rudiger in the 58th minute to allow Jorginho to put Chelsea ahead, but Joe Gelhardt must have thought he had taken a point when he drew Leeds level shortly after coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 75th minute penalty after he had been fouled gave Ralf Rangnick another win as Manchester United coach as his side sneaked past Norwich City 1-0.
Norwich had chances to take a point, but Manchester United keeper David de Gea made good saves to deny Ozan Kabak on two occasions and Teemu Pukki goals for the home side.
Arsenal meanwhile cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win at home to Southampton with first half goals from Alexander Lacazette and Martin Odegaard and a second half header from central defender Gabriel.
Thai football fans jumped for joy as the national team trounced Myanmar with a 4-0 score on Saturday at the 2020 AFF Championship in Singapore.
The winning goals came from Worachit Kanitsribampen and Supachok Sarachat at the 78th and the 92nd minutes, respectively, as well as two from Teerasil Dangda – one at the 23rd minute and a penalty goal at the 53rd minute. These two goals make Teerasil the lead scorer in the tournament with a total of 17 goals.
This win has made Thailand the leader in Group A. The team has collected six points, equal to Singapore, but has a higher goal score.
Thailand next battles against the Philippines at the Singapore National Stadium on Tuesday at 4.30pm (Thailand time).
The “Last Chapter 2021”, the season-ending Thailand Mixed presented by TrustGolf event, will tee off at the Aquella Golf and Country Club in Phang Nga between December 28-31 with a lucrative overall prize money of Bt5 million.
The tournament, the fifth and last on the 2021 TrustGolf Tour series, features top 60 players on the TrustGolf Tour Order of Merits and will be competed in a four-day stroke play format. After 36 holes, top 60 players and ties will proceed into the weekend rounds. Eligible players for the Last Chapter 2021 must fall into one of the following categories:
1.Professional champions in any of the Thailand Mixed events 2.Top 80 in the TrustGolf Tour Order of Merits 3.Amateur winners in any of the Thailand Mixed events 4.30 players through sponsor invites
Big-names confirmed their participation in the are two-time champion Prom Meesawat, former world No 38 Jazz Janewattananond, hot-shot Sadom Kaewkanjana (who has bagged four titles in 2021), Olympian Gunn Charoenkul, veterans Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant, LPGA players Pornanong Phatlum, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, Wichanee Meechai and Prima Thammaraks, other former Thailand Mixed winners such as Arpichaya Yubol (winner in first circuit), Chapchai Nirat (winner in second circuit), former amateur winners Ramil Saelim, Cholcheva Wongras and teen prodigy Ratchanon Chanthananuwat.
The tournament which pits the men and women against one another will be staged under strict protective protocols against COVID-19. ATK Swap test is provided for players, personal caddies, player’s company and officials. Only those who test negative are permitted to participate in the tournament. Furthermore, fans who produce negative ATK results within 72 hours before the tournament are welcome at the course.
Viewers can watch live streaming of the Thailand Mixed hosted by TrustGolf on AISPLAY APP, https://www.facebook.com/trustgolfclub and at TrustGolf Youtube channel from 9am onwards during tournament days.
Thailand Mixed to Conclude Season at Aquella Golf and Country Club
The Thailand Mixed is organised by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology, It is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm Company, Bond Holdings, AISPLAY, Bridgestone, Trust Pharmacy, Trust Live Streaming, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Aquella Golf and Country Club and S.Khonkaen.
Thailand Mixed to Conclude Season at Aquella Golf and Country Club
Amid lingering international concern over the safety of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Wednesday defended the organizations handling of her situation and dismissed suggestions that the IOC should take more aggressive action toward China as unnecessary and antithetical to its core stance of political neutrality.
Speaking to the international media for the first time since Shuai’s initial disappearance five weeks ago – and with Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics less than eight weeks away – Bach said IOC officials who participated in a pair of video calls with Shuai in recent weeks came away with the same impression: “That we could not feel her being under pressure.”
“Of course, many people are saying there are suspicions here and there,” said Bach, speaking from a meeting of the Association of National Olympic Committees’ general assembly in Crete. “It’s very easy to have suspicions, but suspicions you can have about everything.”
Peng, 35, posted on social media on Nov. 2 alleging she had been sexually assaulted by a former top Communist Party official. While the post was deleted and references to the accusation censored by the Chinese government, Peng disappeared from public view for weeks, before resurfacing in state-media photos and videos, then later in the two video calls with IOC leaders – from which no video clips or transcripts were released.
The lack of transparency and independent corroboration regarding Peng’s whereabouts and well-being have fueled continued concern for her and widespread speculation she could not speak or move freely. In a move seen as being at odds with the IOC’s stance, the Women’s Tennis Association, which has been unable to speak with Peng, suspended all its tournaments in China.
On Wednesday, Bach said the IOC expects to have further communication with Peng, calling her situation “fragile” and stressing the organization’s support of her.
“We have achieved, I think so far, with these talks what we could reasonably be expected to achieve,” Bach said. “The most important human right is the physical integrity . . . We have been insuring [that] during these calls. And we will continue the calls, and we will continue the support.
“In such a fragile situation as Peng Shuai is in, you have to make all the efforts to build trust and to engage in a human relationship,” he said. “And this, as I think you can appreciate, is not easy in a video call. But [that] is why we said we want to keep in touch. We want to have other calls. And we want to keep supporting her, and in this way, being [assured] about her physical integrity as much as we can.”
International condemnation of China’s track record on human rights continued Wednesday, with Canada announcing it would join a growing list of countries – already including the United States, the U.K., Australia and New Zealand – participating in a diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022, under which those countries’ athletes would be allowed to compete but top government officials would not attend.
Bach dismissed a question about the diplomatic boycott, saying, “The IOC has always been concerned with the participation of the athletes, and therefore we welcome the support for their Olympic team all of these governments have been emphasizing. This is giving the athletes certainty, and this is what the IOC is about.”
Pressed about underlying concerns about human rights fueling the diplomatic boycotts, Bach stood by the IOC’s guiding principle of political neutrality.
“If we were to start taking political sides, on one way or the other . . . this would be the politicization of the Olympic Games, and this, I would think further, could be the end of the Olympic Games,” he said. “In this divisive world, where the tensions are running high, if the Games would contribute to rising tensions, this would be absolutely contrary to our mission.”
Tiger Woods announced Wednesday that he will return to tournament golf for the first time since his February car crash at next weeks PNC Championship, an unofficial PGA Tour Champions event that features parent-child teams.
Woods will pair with his 12-year-old son, Charlie, just as he did at last year’s event. They finished seventh, five shots behind PGA Tour pro Justin Thomas and his father, Mike.
“Although it’s been a long and challenging year, I am very excited to close it out by competing in the @PNCchampionship with my son Charlie,” Woods wrote on Twitter. “I’m playing as a Dad and couldn’t be more excited and proud.”
The 36-hole tournament is scheduled for Dec. 18 and 19 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando. It will be televised by Golf Channel and NBC.
Late last month, Woods announced that his days as a full-time professional golfer are over after he suffered severe leg injuries in a high-speed crash Feb. 23 in Southern California. Woods suffered comminuted open fractures to the tibia and fibula in his right leg, which means both bones broke into at least three pieces and broke through the skin. He also suffered foot and ankle injuries and said amputation of the leg was “on the table.”
While Woods ruled out a full-time professional schedule, he said he anticipated playing in a few PGA Tour events.
“I think something that is realistic is playing the Tour one day – never full time, ever again – but pick and choose, just like Mr. [Ben] Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year, and you play around that,” Woods said, citing the golf legend who recovered from serious injuries suffered in a 1949 car crash to win six more major titles while playing a limited schedule. “You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that. I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
Woods, who turns 46 on Dec. 30, declined to put a timetable on his return to the course, saying he didn’t know when he would be able to play at a Tour level. But he was optimistic that his return could indeed happen, though he didn’t “foresee this leg being ever what it used to be.”
“To ramp up for a few tournaments a year, there’s no reason I can’t do that and feel ready,” he said. “I’ve come off long layoffs and I’ve won or come close to winning. I know the recipe. I just have to get to the point where I feel comfortable that I can do it again.”
The PNC Championship is a stroke-play event played under the scramble format, in which both players from each team tee off and then decide which shot is best. The players then each hit their next shot from the spot where the selected drive lies, repeating that process until the hole is completed. As an unofficial event of PGA Tour Champions, the PGA’s circuit for players 50 and over, golf carts are allowed.
Woods has been spotted playing golf with his son as he recovers from his injuries. In announcing his future plans last month, the 15-time major winner said he could – in the short term – imagine himself playing low-stakes “hit-and-giggle” events, which aptly sums up the PNC Championship exhibition.
Star Players from Big Tours to Feature at The Final Chapter 2021
Thailand Mixed to Conclude Season at Aquella Golf and Country Club
Thailand Mixed to Conclude Season at Aquella Golf and Country Club
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