C.T. Pan’s annual trip home to Taipei during the winter break was extra special this time around.
With the help of his wife Michelle, the PGA TOUR star successfully raised US$120,000 for the First Social Welfare Foundation – an organisation supporting special needs children and disabled adults – through the staging of the inaugural C.T. Pan Charity Pro-Am at home last week.
“The amount of donation received was beyond our expectation,” said Pan, who is a one-time winner on TOUR.
Growing up in humble beginnings, Pan initially supported the foundation several years ago through personal donations and by providing food and clothing supplies. The foundation has development centres around Chinese Taipei and supports close to 800 people.
With charity being very much part of the PGA TOUR’s DNA, Pan has quickly learned to appreciate that athletes such as himself can do more for the less privileged and after tossing some ideas around, the plan to host a charity pro-am and dinner was mooted.
Pan said: “We first started supporting the First Social Welfare Foundation in 2015 with small amounts of donation and supplies. It was through a friend that we visited the facilities and after seeing the hard work that they put in to help kids with needs and adults with disabled conditions, I was very touched and we then decided to help in every way that we can.
“Charity is something which is very close to my heart as I grew up in a poor family. In my career, a lot of people helped me along the way. They didn’t ask for much in return and only said that if I became successful one day, I would need to help poor families and kids with special needs. I remember them telling me this vividly.”
The charity pro-am attracted 27 golfers and another 55 guests were hosted to a dinner which highlight of the night was an auction. Nearly US$45,000 was raised through the golf competition and another US$75,000 through the auctioning of memorabilia items signed by Pan.
“We anticipated raising about US$100,000 … Our guests were really touched and welcomed this initiative. The charity pro-am was a great success and I am very pleased.,” said Pan, a member of the 2019 International Team for the Presidents Cup.
“I definitely enjoyed my time at home very much. I managed to spend quality time with my mum, sisters and brothers. It’s been almost a year since I was back. Seeing my mother in healthy condition was very comforting too and we had a great time together.”
Japanese pull out of Thailand Open after world No. 1 Momota tests positive for Covid-19
Jan 04. 2021world No. 1 Kento Momota
By THE NATION
Japanese badminton players have withdrawn from three BWF events in Thailand after world No. 1 Kento Momota tested positive for Covid-19 at Narita Airport on Sunday.
The two-time world champion was scheduled to compete in two Thailand Open series events between January 12-17 and January 19-24, each with a US$1-million prize money, followed by the US$1.5-million World Tour Finals from January 27-31 in Nonthaburi province.
According to Badminton Association of Thailand president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, the 26-year-old Japanese had trained with his teammates in Tokyo on Saturday, prompting the entire team to cancel their trip to Bangkok.
“On behalf of the organisers, I deeply appreciate the decision of the Japanese team to withdraw from the competition over health concerns for other participants. I wish all members of the Japanese team strong health and safety and hope to see them back on courts the soonest,” said Patama.
The absence of the Japanese is a further setback to the tournaments after badminton powerhouse China had announced their withdrawal last week as they were prohibited from overseas travel by their government.
The three BWF events in Thailand will be organised under a bubble quarantine policy. Players and their entourage are required to be only in restricted areas starting Monday throughout their stay in the Kingdom.
Players on the alternate list will be invited to compete in place of the Japanese team.
Chinese players pull out of Thailand badminton events due to Covid-19
Dec 29. 2020Chen Yufei of China
By THE NATION
Chinese players have withdrawn from three BWF events due to be held in Thailand next month as they are prohibited from travelling outside their country due to Covid-19 concerns.
Badminton Association of Thailand president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul
Badminton Association of Thailand president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul said the Chinese team had to cancel their trip to Bangkok to abide by the rules of the Chinese government against the pandemic.
“Through an online conference, the Chinese Badminton Association apologised for having to withdraw from the tournaments because of Covid-19 concerns,” said Patama, also a deputy president of the Badminton World Federation.
Thailand will host back-to-back Thailand Open events (Super 1000 level) from January 12-17 and January 19-24, each with $1 million prize money, and the US$1.5-million World Tour Finals from January 27-31 on the outskirts of Bangkok.
The absence of the Chinese players will deprive the tournaments of several stars, such as 2016 Olympic men’s singles gold medallist Chen Long, World Tour Final women’s defending champion and world No 2 Chen Yufei and women’s doubles No 1 Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan.
However, their withdrawals will give an opportunity for home talent, as six more Thai players will be entered into the draw to replace the Chinese. They will join the country’s other hopes, such as Ratchanok Intanon, world junior champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn and mixed doubles specialist Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Due to the new wave of Covid-19 outbreak in the Kingdom since early December, the three events will be held without spectators.
Teen Thasaporn rises above personal tragedy to win title for late dad
Dec 28. 2020Thasaporn Naklo
Braving a personal tragedy and odds, Thasaporn Naklo upset Kamonwan Buayam in the final of the Hua Hin Open Masters tennis tournament at the True Arena Hua Hin on Sunday and dedicated her maiden professional win to her late father.
The 19-year-old, who lost her father in a car accident last week, had to remain mentally tough to stay in the tournament in order to realise his dream of her winning the title.
“This victory is for my dad,” a tearful Thasaporn said. “I had to have a strong will this week to try and achieve this for him. It would be my last present for him,” added the emotional Thasaporn, who fought back from a set down to beat her more experienced rival 3-6 6-2 6-0 in the women’s final.
Kamonwan Buyam, right, tries to console Thasaporn Naklo during the award presentation.
On Wednesday, her father Somchai, 52, died in a road accident when he was driving back to Bangkok after meeting his daughter in Hua Hin.
Instead of withdrawing from the competition, the teenager had to summon all her reserves of courage and concentration to stay in the tournament, believing this would be the path her father would have wanted her to pursue. She had to go back and forth between Hua Hin and Bangkok (198km) every day in order to attend the funeral and also stay in the tournament.
Even runner-up Kamonwan could not hold back tears during the award presentation.
“If this had happened to me, I don’t think I could have carried on the way she did,” she said.
Apart from the Bt55,000 prize money, Thasaporn also received a special scholarship of Bt50,000 from the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand honorary president Suwat Liptapanlop.
Thasaporn is currently studying in the US. She returned to Thailand for a pre-season training and is scheduled to go back soon.
In the men’s singles final showdown, Pruchya Isaro finally won at this venue after he settled score with Palaphoom Kovapitukted with a straight set victory 7-5 6-0. The 25-year-old from Songkhla had lost two finals in the previous legs including a defeat to Palaphoom in the openening circuit in early November. He also lost to Palaphoom in three sets in the round-robin stage earlier this week.
Pruchya who won the Bt52,000 prize money for his victory has bagged two singles title this season. His previous occured last month in the Singha TATP Tour in Nonthaburi.
Dec 27. 2020Jamal “Kherow” Yusupov of Russia and Samy “AK47” Sana of France
By THE NATION
ONE Championship returned to the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the promotion’s final event of 2020.
Jamal “Kherow” Yusupov of Russia
ONE: Collision Course, a previously recorded event broadcast globally on Friday, featured a series of impressive performances in the Circle from the world’s top mixed martial artists and Muay Thai stars.
In the main event, No. 2-ranked featherweight Muay Thai contender Jamal “Kherow” Yusupov of Russia was sharp and powerful across three rounds, overwhelming No. 4-ranked contender Samy “AK47” Sana of France and Algeria en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Yusupov employed a laser-like straight left that hammered Sana’s chin throughout the action-packed bout. In the second round, one of those explosive left hands sent Sana crashing to the canvas as the referee administered the mandatory count. The French-Algerian tried to turn up the pressure in the third stanza and swing the momentum in his favour, but Yusupov kept his composure and continued his unrelenting onslaught.
In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Yusupov, who earned the nod behind an impressive display of power and technique.
In the co-main event, former ONE flyweight world champion Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov of Kazakhstan turned in a masterful performance, dominating “Ottogi” Dae Hwan Kim of South Korea across three rounds to earn a convincing unanimous decision. Akhmetov put on a striking clinic, pouncing on his opponent with a healthy dose of looping hooks and debilitating kicks that connected with power and precision. Kim tried his best to counter, but he lagged behind throughout the bout. In the end, Akhmetov’s complete showcase of skills was more than enough to clinch the victory on the scorecards.
A ONE Super Series Muay Thai showdown between WBC Muay Thai champion Momotaro of Japan and former ONE world title challenger Walter Goncalves of Brazil ended abruptly when Goncalves suffered a leg injury in the second round that forced him to bow out of the contest. In round one, Goncalves attacked with a steady torrent of thudding kicks that kept the Japanese fighter on the defensive. In round two, however, the Brazlian appeared to tweak his knee when a kick made contact with Momotaro, who earned the TKO.
In a heated three-round battle between talented lightweight mixed martial artists, South Korea’s “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park edged out Singapore’s Amir Khan to earn a narrow split decision on the scorecards. Khan played the role of aggressor for the duration of the bout, connecting on pinpoint striking combinations from range, while Park owned the wrestling and grappling exchanges. A strong third round from Park turned the tide, and in the end, the South Korean’s success on the mat was enough to convince the judges.
Highly regarded Russian welterweight Raimond Magomedaliev made quick work of Brazil’s Edson Marques to win a devastating knockout in the first round. Magomedaliev began the contest attacking Marques’s legs with low kicks and feints to slow his movements. Once Magomedaliev had Marques backed up against the Circle Wall, a thunderous right cross sent the previously undefeated Brazilian to the canvas for good, as the referee called a halt to the contest.
It was an action-packed affair between Japan’s Senzo Ikeda and China’s “The Little Monster” Liang Hui to start the evening. Both men tested each other’s chins with explosive strikes, with neither wanting to back down. Liang brandished a tremendous overhand right paired with a sharp left hook that had Ikeda reeling throughout the contest. Meanwhile, Ikeda employed a piston-like left jab that nearly shut Liang’s right eye, as well as a robust ground game that undoubtedly swayed the decision in his favour. In the end, all three judges scored the bout for Ikeda.
Official results
Muay Thai – featherweight: Jamal Yusupov bt Samy Sana via unanimous decision
Mixed Martial Arts – catch weight (62.2kg): Kairat Akhmetov bt Dae Hwan Kim via unanimous decision
Muay Thai – flyweight: Momotaro bt Walter Goncalves via TKO at 0:30 of round two
Mixed Martial Arts – lightweight: Dae Sung Park bt Amir Khan via split decision
Mixed Martial Arts – welterweight: Raimond Magomedaliev bt Edson Marques via knockout at 1:52 of round one
Mixed Martial Arts – catch weight (60kg): Senzo Ikeda bt Liang Hui via unanimous decision
Virus robs Bangkok’s 3 world badminton tournaments of audience
Dec 25. 2020
By THE NATION
All three Badminton World Federation (BWF) tournaments in Bangkok next month will take place without an audience over Covid-19 concerns, organisers said on Thursday.
Back-to-back Thailand Opens (Super 1000 level) due on January 12-17 and January 19-24, each with $1 million up for grabs, and the US$1.5-million World Tour Finals on January 27-31 will be locked down to prevent virus transmission. Thailand is on high alert after a second wave of Covid-19 hit the country last week.
“Due to the current situation, the organisers of the three BWF tournaments in Bangkok have decided they will proceed without spectators,” said Badminton Association of Thailand president Patama Leeswadtrakul.
International players must be tested 72 hours before leaving for Thailand and carry “Fit to Fly” documentation. On landing in Thailand, they will undergo a Covid-19 test, then remain confined to their rooms until the test results are known. Only once a negative test has been confirmed will the athletes be permitted to start training. Practice facilities will be offered to one nationality at a time and disinfected between each session.
Competitors and their support staff will have to stay in their bio-secure “bubbles” for 14 days after arriving in Thailand.
During the tournament players will receive shuttlecocks directly from a machine, as per the Danish Open in October.
Khan believes he has the right game plan to beat Dae
Dec 25. 2020
By THE NATION
Top lightweight talent Amir Khan of Singapore is heading into his next matchup looking to put another solid win in the books. After stopping Rahul Raju last October, the 26-year-old Circle veteran is back in action, and wants to put on another epic performance.
Khan faces South Korea’s “Crazy Dog” Dae Sung Park at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore scheduled for broadcast this Friday, 25 December.
Riding a wave of confidence from his last outing, Khan is excited to get back in the Circle to showcase his skills once again.
“I hadn’t gotten a KO in a while. It’s definitely a good feeling to get that killer instinct back. I knew I had it deep down within, I just had to get it back. Sometimes you know you have it, but you have to show it to yourself,” Khan said of the win over Raju, before sharing his thoughts on Park.
“It’s a good matchup. Me and my coach accepted the fight right away and created a game plan. He (Park) a very well-rounded fighter. He has his strong points. He’s southpaw, so we’ve got to be careful of his left side attacks.”
Park is a ONE Warrior Series graduate under the legendary Rich Franklin. The South Korean is riding a four-bout win streak. He’s won 9 of his last 10 fights.
Khan, considered one of the best lightweights in the promotion, has studied Park’s particular style, and has come up with a solid game plan with his coach at Evolve MMA, Siyar Bahadurzada. The Singaporean star is confident he can pull off another spectacular victory to move himself further up the ranks.
“[Park] overuses his energy in the first round, so we’re going to capitalize on that. We know we have to go through a storm in the first round because he comes in hot, and once we go through it, then we can take him out,” said Khan.
“He’s going to come out strong in the first round and then get a bit tired, a bit lethargic. But I’m not going to go for the kill. I’m just going to have fun, pick my shots, pick him apart, and stay loose. I’m going to keep on the offense, and I believe the knockout will come, but I will not look for it.”
ONE: COLLISION COURSE II is ONE Championship’s final broadcast of the year. The previously recorded show features a main event classic between #2 ranked Muay Thai featherweight Jamal Yusupov and #4 ranked Samy Sana. It’s expected to be one of the most exciting Muay Thai clashes in recent memory.
Khan, who aims to move up the lightweight ladder, realizes how important this fight is against Park. The 26-year-old Singaporean even believes a victory here could position him for a handful of significant matches in 2021.
“Park has three wins in ONE Championship. He’s a good name. So if I get another good win, another dominant finish, that will set me up for going against one of the top contenders in 2021,” Khan concluded.
“Then after, maybe I can eventually fight for a belt. But one fight at a time. I’m just going to get through Park first, focus on him, and the rest will come later. I’m giving my full attention to Park because he’s equally as dangerous, and I don’t want to underestimate him.”
Men and women battle for Bt17m in Thailand’s first mixed golf tour
Dec 24. 2020
By THE NATION
For the first time in Thai golfing history, men will battle against women in a professional tour with millions in prize money at stake.
Trust Golf founder Dr. Prin Singhanart
The Thailand Mixed tour kicks off in Pattaya in January, the first leg of a five-tournament circuit offering total prize money of over Bt17 million.
Hosted by golf training centre Trust Golf, the mixed tournament will be competed in the regulation professional format: a 156-field (78 men and 78 women) playing 36 holes in the first two rounds with half of field moving to the weekend rounds.
However, to create a competitive scenario between the two genders, tee-off positions for female players will be set closer to the pin.
According to Trust Golf founder Prin Singhanart, women are capable of competing against the men as there was no significant difference between the level of male and female players.
“We held a test competition and found that their results are not so different,” said Prin. “Currently, the standard of women’s golf is quite high. By favouring them with the tee-off positions, they should be able to put the men to the test,” she added.
Also open to international players, the tour kicks off at the Chee Chan Golf Resort in Pattaya from January 28-31, with the second leg at the Alpine Golf Resort in Chiang Mai on March 18-21. The third stop is at the Blue Canyon in Phuket on May 20-23 while the fourth is due from July 8-11 with the venue yet to be confirmed.
Each will offer total prize money of Bt3 million. The biggest purse of Bt5 million will be up for grabs in the final tournament on December 9-12 (venue to be confirmed).
Eight-time European Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee agrees that women have the potential to challenge the men on the fairways.
“This type of tournament brings Thai golf to a new dimension. Our Thai female golfers are on a higher level these days. It’s a great opportunity for the women to test their potential,” Thongchai said.
Two-time Asian Tour winner Prom Meesawat said the women would inevitably be at a disadvantage, but added the tournament would serve as a springboard for female golfers eyeing the global stage.
“Succeeding at the international level means playing the tough and long courses out there. It’s important that our female players undergo challenges that will prepare them for the higher stage,” said Prom.
Sana wants to establish his dominance against Yusupov
Dec 24. 2020
By THE NATION
French-Algerian striker Samy “AK47” Sana wants a shot at the ONE World Title. If he gets his way, the 32-year-old from Paris, France, promises he will capitalize on the opportunity. He plans to show why he deserves to be considered among the top fighters in his division with a fiery performance in his next bout.
Sana, the #4 ranked Muay Thai featherweight in ONE Super Series, is set to take on #2 ranked Jamal “Kherow” Yusupov of Russia in what is expected to be a dramatic showcase of action inside the ONE Circle.
The two go head-to-head in the main event of ONE: COLLISION COURSE II, a previously recorded event from the Singapore Indoor Stadium scheduled for broadcast this Friday, 25 December.
“In my next bout, I’ll prove that I am a top contender who is tough to beat, and I want to show that I am the real champion of my weight class. This is a really important bout that I’m taking extremely seriously, especially [if there is a chance to compete] for the ONE Championship belt,” Sana told ONE Championship.
Against Yusupov, Sana faces a three-time Russian Kickboxing Champion, hardened on the rough and tumble streets of Dagestan. He is a winner of six Russian national championships in both kickboxing and Muay Thai, as well as a European kickboxing title.
In November of 2019, Yusupov burst onto the ONE Super Series scene with a shock second round finish of legendary Yodsanklai Fairtex, a man Sana also defeated recently.
Surprisingly, Sana wasn’t all too impressed with Yusupov’s performance, and wants to prove to fans why he’s the better fighter.
“He beat Yodsanklai after I’d beaten him. I think Yodsanklai was still in mental shock after my bout, so it was easier for him, but I’ll show that I’m the boss. There is not a lot of footage of him available, but I’m analyzing his Yodsanklai bout. He seems to be a good striker, but I’m also really powerful. He has a good boxing technique and he comes from K-1, so I’ll only have to care about his fists,” said Sana.
“He has to fear everything because I’m strong, tall, and powerful. I’m a pure nak muay, so it’ll be tough for him. We are going to put on a good fight. As with every fight, I’ll need to give my best at 200 percent to finish the opponent and to show I’m the best.”
ONE: COLLISION COURSE II is ONE Championship’s final broadcast of the year. Aside from the main event between Sana and Yusupov, the card also features a host of other compelling martial arts contests.
Sana knows how important this bout is to establish his footing in the Muay Thai rankings. After a failed bid in kickboxing, losing to the great Giorgio Petrosyan in the final round of the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix, Sana has rededicated himself to training, and vows to capture ONE gold, one way or another.
“Of course, I’ve been disappointed by my loss because I’m not used to losing. Losing is very tough for me. But Giorgio and I are in the same rankings, so there will definitely be a time to take my revenge,” Sana concluded.
“It is definitely my goal to get the ONE Championship belt. I’ll do anything, and I’ll get to it in Muay Thai, kickboxing, and maybe in the higher weight class.”
Leicester make historic move to new Seagrave training ground
Dec 23. 2020Seagrave is the new training complex of Leicester City.
An exciting new chapter in the history of Thai-owned Leicester City begins this week, as the club prepares to relocate to its brand-new training complex in north Leicestershire.
– Leicester City set to move into new training ground in Seagrave, north Leicestershire
– First team players will train at the new world-class facility for the first time on 24 December
– First Team’s former training facility at Belvoir Drive to become the home of LCFC Women
The First Team squad will take part in their landmark first training session at the new Seagrave site on Christmas Eve, following the completion of a spectacular facility that signifies a significant step forward for the Club under the ownership of King Power International.
Under construction since the spring of 2019, the Leicester City Football Club Training Ground, Seagrave, is the latest in a series of transformational investments made by King Power and the Srivaddhanaprabha family since acquiring Leicester City in 2010. The 180-acre site features:
– 21 playing surfaces, including 14 full-size pitches
– 499-seater, floodlit show pitch
– The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Building – the site’s primary training, medical, and administrative hub for the First Team and Academy.
– Elite-standard sports science and medical facilities
– Customised gym and hydrotherapy facilities
– The King Power Centre – the site’s central point, housing an indoor pitch and media centre
– Sports Turf Academy for the education and development of industry-leading grounds staff
– Private nine-hole golf course
Following the First Team’s transition to the site, Seagrave will become home to the Club’s entire men’s professional and academy football operation in the coming weeks.
The Club is also delighted to announce that its current facility at Belvoir Drive – Leicester City’s training ground for nearly 60 years – will now become home to LCFC Women. The Club’s women’s team, which was acquired by LCFC last August, turned professional this past summer and currently leads the FA Women’s Championship, will move into Belvoir Drive before the turn of the year.
Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “The Club has taken some enormous strides forward in the last 10 years. In terms of our long-term future, this is perhaps the biggest.
“A new training ground has been a dream many years in the making, so it is with great pride that we have been able to deliver this. Seagrave will be a pivotal part of the Club’s operation for generations to come.
“Of all the investments we have made in the Club, this has been our most significant. It is an investment in our players of today and our players of tomorrow, putting some of the very best facilities in the world at the heart of their everyday environment. It elevates the Club’s offering to its players and staff to an entirely new level and is a key component in making our progress of recent years sustainable.
“Belvoir Drive has served the Club wonderfully and been a spiritual home for Leicester City teams through several generations. For it to become the home of LCFC Women is a fine legacy for an historic location. The investments we have made in the last 10 years have made it an outstanding, professional training ground from which their considerable development can continue.”
Leicester City first revealed plans for a new training ground in early 2018, two years after winning the Premier League title in one of the biggest stories in the history of professional sport. The project was intended to be part of a legacy for the most successful period in the Club’s history, ensuring the Foxes could realise the dream of their late owner, Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, to be a consistently competitive force in the upper reaches of English football.
Work in Seagrave began in the spring of 2019, transforming the site of the former Park Hill golf course into one of the world’s most advanced sports facilities.
City’s First Team squad will train at Belvoir Drive for the final time on Wednesday, before operations transfer to Seagrave from Christmas Eve. The Foxes, second in the Premier League, host Manchester United at King Power Stadium on Boxing Day.
LEICESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB TRAINING GROUND, SEAGRAVE
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Building
The primary hub of the Seagrave site, the building is named after the Club’s late Chairman and patriarch. An elite-standard training facility was a central feature of Khun Vichai’s vision for the Club, now being realised under the guidance of his son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
The building includes all facilities for the Club’s professional men’s teams, football operations, offices, private accommodation, restaurant and First Team recreation. Its balconies overlook the First Team training pitches.
King Power Centre
The King Power Centre is the site’s most prominent structure. Its spectacular dome, built into the landscape, houses an air conditioned, artificial pitch and a media centre including press conference room, broadcast facilities and hospitality space.
Match Pitch 1
A 499-seater show pitch for limited use, including selected FA Youth Cup, PL2 and LCFC Women’s matches, serviced by designated changing facilities and broadcast compound.
Sports Turf Academy
A first-of-its-kind facility for the education and development of elite grounds staff and grounds services. The STA will aim to train future generations of grounds professionals for deployment in sporting settings around the world, while creating a research and development hub for innovations in turf management.
world No. 1 Kento Momota
Chen Yufei of China
Thasaporn Naklo
Kamonwan Buyam, right, tries to console Thasaporn Naklo during the award presentation.
Pruchya Isaro 
Jamal “Kherow” Yusupov of Russia and Samy “AK47” Sana of France
Seagrave is the new training complex of Leicester City. 
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