The 24 young players from the 2019 Toyota Football Clinic participated in the six-day event which allowed them an opportunity to learn from Nagoya stars including midfielder and Japan U-23 national player Yuki Soma, manager Massimo Ficcadenti and Motohiro Yamaguchi, ex-Japanese National Football Player and Director of Nagoya Grampus FC Academy.

Under the theme “Start Your Impossible”, the training focused on advanced technical programme used for junior level in Japan, both practical and theoretical aspects.

Each participant was granted a certificate presented by the President of Nagoya Grampus FC Koki Konishi and Chayut Boonyawart, Deputy General Manager/Commercial Vehicle Marketing Department,Toyota Motor Thailand Co Ltd.

Lt-General Thitithan Suksri (middle) and all winners.

Akane Yamaguchi 

The world No 9, raised his game and intensified his attacks after losing the opener 16-21, to subdue the world No 16 21-13 21-12 in the next two games to win the Super 300 event.

Ng’s last win was in the Malaysian Masters, then classified as a Grand Prix event in 2017. He earned US$12,750 as the winner’s cheque.

Thai badminton chief Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul and Kenta Nishimoto 

Nishimoto has yet to win a title, having lost six finals. He will return to Japan with a runner’s-up cheque of US$6,460.

On the women’s side, world No 3 Akana Yamaguchi of Japan scored her first victory over South Korean teenager An Se Young after a tough grind, winning 21-14 22-20 in 48 minutes. It was her first win over the 17-year-old Korean after losing their previous encounters at the Korea Masters and French Open last year.

Former world No 1 Yamaguchi has won a total of six BWF World Tour titles. She earned US$12,750 for her victory in Bangkok. An, No 9 in the world, received US$6,460.

Tokushoryu kept his cool fighting in the final bout of the tournament and slammed down ozeki Takakeisho to win the title with a 14-1 record at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Tokushoryu, who ended Nara Prefecture’s 98-year wait for a second native son to win a sumo tournament, broke down in tears after the victory. It also marked the first time the lowest-ranked wrestler in the makuuchi division won the championship since No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki did it at the Spring tournament in 2000.

“As I am the lowest ranked, I had nothing to fear and just gave everything I could,” Tokushoryu said in a ringside interview after receiving his bevy of trophies.

In a tournament that saw the early withdrawal of both yokozuna, the title was certainly going to be up for grabs. But nobody could have foreseen this outcome. Tokushoryu became the 11th maegashira-ranked wrestler to win an Emperor’s Cup from the start of the Heisei Era (1989-2019).

At the age of 33 years 5 months, he becomes the third-oldest wrestler to win an inaugural title in sumo history, and the oldest native Japanese.

Tokushoryu’s lone loss came on the second day to No. 16 maegashira Kaisei, after which he reeled off 13 straight wins. He put himself into position to clinch the title on the final day when he broke a tie for the lead with No. 4 maegashira Shodai by beating him the previous day.

“No, I wasn’t thinking [about the championship],” Tokushoryu said, then added playfully, “no, that’s a lie, I was really thinking about it.”

Takakeisho, who had fallen out of the title chase on Saturday, could only play the role of spoiler. But against Tokushoryu, he found himself constantly on the defensive.

Tokushoryu forced him to the edge, but Takakeisho twisted out of the predicament. But a second charge moved the ozeki to the other end of the ring, where Tokushoryu drove him to the ground to put a definitive stamp on his unlikely title. A loss by Tokushoryu would have sent him into a playoff with Shodai, who earlier won his final bout to finish 13-2.

“I told myself that I had to be aggressive and that I need to make good initial contact,” he said.

Tokushoryu, who had never won any of the three post-tournament prizes in his career, walked off with two of them, the Outstanding Performance Award and the Fighting Spirit Prize. He shared the former with No. 1 maegashira Endo and the latter with title rival Shodai and fellow No. 17 maegashira Kiribayama.

Tokushoryu joined sumo in 2009 after graduating from Kindai University. During the New Year tournament, he was stung by the sad news that his college coach Katsuhito Ito had died, which served as incentive to put on the performance of his life.

“Coach did not just watch me, it was like he was in the ring fighting with me,” Tokushoryu said with tears in his eyes. “When my spirits were down, I would see his face. It motivated me to be able to give him good news.”

He had spent the previous three tournaments in the juryo division, and only squeezed into the lowest rung on the makuuchi division ladder by notching an 8-7 record in the Kyushu tournament in November.

Earlier, Shodai put the pressure on Tokushoryu by defeating No. 2 maegashira Mitakeumi for his 13th win. Shodai came out firing on all cylinders and quickly forced Mitakeumi to the edge. Mitakeumi tried in vain to step aside, but Shodai was having none of that, standing his ground and shoving Mitakeumi off the raised ring.

From there, all Shodai could do was wait to see if he would get a shot at the title in a playoff and a chance to avenge his 14th-day loss to Tokushoryu. It never came.

Ozeki Goeido, assured of demotion, finished up a disappointing tournament with a humiliating 10th loss to No. 7 maegashira Onosho. With both wrestlers securing belt holds, Goeido tried to hook his left leg around Onosho’s right. But that only gave Onosho the opening for a quick twisting throw that sent Goeido landing on the dirt with a thud.

Goeido’s ninth life with kadoban status proved to be his last. Needing eight wins to keep his ozeki rank, Goeido assured himself of a losing record — and demotion to sekiwake for the next tournament — when he suffered his eighth loss on the 12th day.

There will be an opening at sekiwake after Takayasu concluded his tournament with a 6-9 record, although he salvaged some pride by defeating No. 8 maegashira Aoiyama on the final day. Takayasu, demoted from ozeki, could have regained that rank by chalking up 10 wins, but instead finds himself headed in the opposite direction.

The other sekiwake, Asanoyama, capped an impressive debut at the third-highest rank by body-slamming No. 8 Ryuden to finish 10-5, a good start in a bid for future promotion to ozeki.

The most entertaining wrestler of the tournament, diminutive No. 5 maegashira Enho, finished 8-7 after a loss to No. 11 maegashira Kagayaki in which he was pushed out following a somewhat dubious jump-off.

Kagayaki seemed to stop initially, which would normally lead to a restart, but then suddenly resumed the fight, much to the surprise of Enho, who could offer little resistance at that point.

In a battle between wrestlers in line for hefty promotions, No. 9 maegashira Yutakayama dodged a charge by No. 2 maegashira Hokutofuji and sent him sailing out of the ring, a result that left both with 11-4 records. Despite the loss, Hokutofuji was awarded the Technique Prize.

Meanwhile, former ozeki Terunofuji, who had already clinched the juryo division title with two days to spare, finished up his tournament in the second tier with a second straight loss when he was forced out by No. 6 juryo Daiamami.

“I was aiming for 10 wins, but as I kept winning, I became aware [of the championship],” Terunofuji said. Asked about missing out on going undefeated, he replied. “I wanted to do it, but it’s not that easy.”

Terunofuji, fighting as a No. 13 juryo, has made a remarkable comeback after injuries and illness saw him drop from ozeki to as far as jonidan, the second-lowest of the six divisions. Whether his 13-2 record in juryo will be enough to propel him back to the makuuchi division remains to be seen.

Pavit, who held a two-shot advantage coming into Sunday’s action, kept his nerve after trading five birdies against one bogey for a winning total of 23-under-par 261 to stave off the challenge from American John Catlin.

The 30-year-old was ecstatic to win this title in the honour of his idol.

“I’m very happy, because this is the Boonchu (Ruangkit Championship) title. He is a Thai legend who has his own tournament to contribute to our golf. He is my idol since I was young, and it’s an honour to win in his name,” said Pavit, who becomes the first winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) this season.

More importantly, he etches his name into the history books by becoming the most successful golfer on the tour with seven wins, surpassing Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang who shared six titles with him previously.

Since claiming his first ADT title in Indonesia back in 2014, Pavit went on to become the Order of Merit champion that year and never looked back.

He has high regard for the ADT for shaping his career.

“I respect the ADT very much, it is a tour that is only getting stronger. I got into the Asian Tour through this tour and will always recognize that,” he said.

Pavit had to keep his composure on a day he described was the “toughest to attack the pins”.

He notched his first birdie on the fifth hole, along with Catlin.

He gained an advantage when the American fumbled with a bogey on the eighth, before both golfers bumped in another birdie on the ninth.

Pavit continued his consistency after the turn with another three birdies, and romped to victory despite a bogey in the final hole.

“Today was the toughest to attack the pins, so I had to play straight to the plan and play a safer game. From my position, there was no need to attack the pins so much because it was windy.”

Pavit also ensured the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship title is won yet again by another Thai golfer, following in the footsteps of Phiphatphong Naewsuk, Danthai Boonma, Namchok Tantipokhakul and Itthipat Buranatanyarat.

Victory also sees him pocketing US$22, 973.42.

Thailand’s Tirawat Kaewsiribandit finished in third (265), while Sweden’s Andreas Gronkvist and Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana finished tied-fourth (268).

Final round scores

261 – Pavit Tangkamolprasert 69-62-63-67 (THA)

263 – John Catlin 63-62-71-67 (USA)

265 – Tirawat Kaewsiribandit 67-65-68-65 (THA)

268 – Andreas Gronkvist 68-64-67-69 (SWE), Sadom Kaewkanjana 65-61-70-72 (THA)

269 – Arnond Vongvanij 67-67-65-70 (THA)

270 – Kosuke Hamamoto 67-67-71-65 (THA), Prayad Marksaeng 64-67-70-69 (THA)

271 – Pawin Ingkhapradit 69-67-72-63 (THA), Kammalas Namuangruk (THA) 69-65-69-68, Suradit Yongcharoenchai 60-66-75-70 (THA), Thongchai Jaidee 68-61-68-74 (THA)

Kenta Nishimoto reacts after winning a point.

The Thai was no match for the agility and attacking game of Asian Games bronze medallist and world No 16 Kenta Nishimoto of Japan, losing 21-18 21-13 in just 47 minutes.

“I neither stuck to the game plan nor played to my standard,” said the 18-year-old Thai in a post-match interview. “I really wanted to win and put myself under pressure. It took a toll on me,” added the three-time world junior champion.

The teenage prodigy will next play in Spain and Germany. He is in no rush for quick success in his first year on the senior tour.

“My goal is to win one match at a time. Of course, I want to win a tournament but I still have to improve on my speed, fitness and game,” he added.

Nishimoto will next play Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong who beat Shi Yu Qi of China 21-18 21-19.

Akane Yamaguchi

On the women’s side, world No 3 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan staved off a couple of match points in the second game to beat three-time world champion Carolina Marin of Spain 14-21 23-21 21-18.

Cheered by a handful of highly supportive Japanese fans, the agile Akane put up a great fight to escape from defeat in the second game. She is in her first final since winning the Japan Open in July last year. She will line up a final showdown against third-seeded An Se Young of South Korea who eliminated former finalist Aya Ohori of Japan 21-17 21-14.

Pavit shot to the summit from his tied-eighth position after bumping in nine birdies for a third round total of 19-under-par 194 to overtake overnight leader John Catlin.

Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana will keep Pavit firmly on his heels after he ended the penultimate round with a 70 to sit tied-second along with American Catlin, who finished with even par 71.

Local season campaigner Thongchai Jaidee is only three shots off Pavit in fourth after managing a 68, while the trio of Arnond Vongvanij, Andreas Gronkvist and Panuphol Pittayarat trails the leader five shots away in tied-fifth.

Pavit is aware how competitive the final round is set to play out on Sunday, but is confident he will thrive under pressure.

“I will go out to play aggressively. My confidence is high, and I am someone who likes the pressure to perform well. You have to shoot low on this course if you want to win.

“My round today (Saturday) was good. I have been driving the well this week and my iron hitting has been good. It’s all about putting well,” said Pavit.

The Bangkok-born started with a birdie, and did not let a bogey on the second hole affect him as he fired home four consecutive birdies from the third hole.

Pavit finished the front nine with six birdies, and went on to notch another three for the slender lead.

If the 30-year-old manages to hold on to his advantage, he will follow in the tradition of becoming yet another Thai name to etch his name on the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship.

Phiphatphong Naewsuk, Danthai Boonma, Namchok Tantipokhakul and Itthipat Buranatanyarat have all triumphed in the past.

Catlin still believes he has an opportunity to change that if he can play well on Sunday.

The American fumbled with a triple bogey on the fourth hole which took some momentum off his game.

“It was unfortunate the ball hit a tree and bounced off into a cluster of tress. Other than that it was okay. There is plenty of chances to make birdies (on Sunday), I just got to keep doing what I’m doing,” said Catlin.

Leading third round scores

194 – Pavit Tangkamolprasert 69-62-63 (THA)

196 – Sadom Kaewkanjana 65-61-70 (THA), John Catlin 63-62-71 (USA)

197 – Thongchai Jaidee 68-61-68 (THA)

199 – Arnond Vongvanij 67-67-65 (THA), Andreas Gronkvist 68-64-67 (SWE), Panuphol Pittayarat 62-67-70 (THA)

200 – Tirawat Kaewsiribandit 67-65-68 (THA)

201 – Attaphon Sriboonkaew 66-69-66 (THA), Jaturon Duangphaichoom 70-63-68 (THA), Prayad Marksaeng 64-67-70 (THA), Pattaraphol Khanthacha 63-68-70 (THA), Malcolm Kokocinski 62-67-72 (SWE), Suradit Yongcharoenchai 60-66-75 (THA)

Ratchanok Intanon 

The Kingdom’s promising star proved more solid in his all round game as he wrapped up the match in 43 minutes to reach his first ever semi-final on a Super 300 tournament.

“I’m a bit under pressure playing against a senior player in the national team. I was playing quite well,” said the 18-year-old Thai, the only player in the world to win three straight World Junior Championships title.

“It’s great to win and move forwards to the next round. Keep winning is always a good thing as I still have to improve more. In order to do that, I have to move past tough foreign players,” added Kunlavut who will carry the local lone hope into the Saturday’s actions. He will face Kenta Nishimoto of Japan, a 21-10 22-20 winner over Zhao Jun Peng of China.

While Kunlavut is still in the tournament, Ratchanon Intanon, the country’s ace in women’s singles was shown the exit by former Thailand Open champion Aya Ohori of Japan 16-21 21-17 21-10.

“Everything was OK until in the middle of the second game. I started missing my shots and didn’t play the way I should have to,” said Ratchanok, winner in Indonesia last week.

Aya Ohori

Catlin, who started the day in tied fourth with a 63, overtook overnight Thai leader Suradit Yongcharoenchai for the lead after posting a blemish free scorecard that included seven birdies and an eagle for a second round total of 17-under-par 125.

Sadom Kaewkanjana of Thailand rose to third courtesy of his brilliant 61, while Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee joined compatriot Panuphol Pittayarat after firing a 61 to sit tied-fourth along with Weerachai Yuanyang and Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden.

“My game today was solid from the tee to the greens. I have been hitting a lot of fairways and my wedge game has been good,” said Catlin, who was one of nine golfers to fire an eagle on the par-five 14th hole.

“I have been hitting it close to the pin and a couple of par-5s. If you play your holes right you stand a good chance to land an eagle.”

Catlin, who was victorious in Thailand in November, started off brightly with a birdie, before finding another three to close out the front nine.

The world number 195 managed another three birdies after the turn, and coupled with the eagle, was enough to bump him to top spot.

Suradit, who could only manage a 66 after his impressive 60 in the first round, admitted his game was a little off.

“Everything went right for me yesterday (Thursday), but today I was just not getting enough balls in the hole. I have to work on my putting in the next two rounds. It’s all about keeping focus,” said Suradit.

A total of 50 golfers made the cut at the season opening Asian Development Tour event.

Sweden’s Oscar Zetterwall and Japanese Ryuichi Oiwa, who both won titles on the ADT circuit last year, were among some of the big names to miss the cut.

Leading second round scores

125 – John Catlin  63-62 (USA)

126 – Suradit Yongcharoenchai 60-66 (THA), Sadom Kaewkanjana 65-61 (THA)

129 – Panuphol Pittayarat 62-67 (THA), Thongchai Jaidee 68-61 (THA), Weerachai Yuanyang 68-61 (THA), Malcolm Kokocinski 62-67 (SWE)

131 – Pattaraphol Khanthacha 63-68 (THA), Prayad Marksaeng 64-67 (THA), Pavit Tangkamolprasert 69-62 (THA)

132- Tirawat Kaewsiribandit 67-65 (THA), Ratchapol Jantavara 65-67 (THA), Andreas Gronkvist 68-64 (SWE), Kwanchai Tannin 65-67 (THA), Amir Nazrin 67-65 (THA), Thanathip Puaktes 66-66 (THA)

Ratchanok Intanon

The 18-year-old Thai, the first player in the history to win three World Championship boys’ singles titles, shrugged off a rusty form in the second game to win the men’s singles second round in 59 minutes.

“I tried to change my plan to be more consistent in the final game. My opponent was quite solid, so I had to cut off unforced errors. My attacking game let me down today,” said the teenager in his first ever final eights in a home World Tour event.

Up next for him is fellow countryman Suppanyu Avihingsanon who beat former Thai No 1 Khosit Phetpradab 19-21 21-10 22-20.

“I take one match at a time. I’ve just moved from the junior level and still have a lot to learn,” he added.

On the women’s side, Ratchanok Intanon extended her unbeatable record to 7-0 in two weeks as she crushed Pai Yu Po of Taiwan 21-13 21-14. The world No 5 just won her first title of the year last week in Indonesia. She is the last Thai female remaining in the draw as Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Pornpawee Chochuwong have all crashed out in straight sets.

Suppanyu Avihingsanon 

The 21-year-old rising star, who came into this event on the back of a memorable 2019 season, continued that rich vein of form with a clean scorecard that included 11 birdies to seize the advantage in a competitive leaderboard.

Malcolm Kokocinski of Sweden and Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat did well to keep Suradit firmly in sight, trailing two shots away with matching 62s on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) season opener.

Pattaraphol Khanthacha was among the slew of golfers to fire an eagle, as the Thai and American John Catlin trail Suradit by three shots.

“Today I played with a new iron and everything was good. I hit better on the greens, and my putting game was also strong,” said Pattaraphol, adding the Rancho Charnvee Resort and Country Club aided his game.

“This course is nice to play on. It’s a short course and it’s not difficult.”

Suradit won in Taiwan last October before closing out 2019 with a tied second finish in Thailand.

Beginning the season on home turf, he started off in fiery fashion with six birdies in the opening eight holes.

Suradit maintained that same precision after the turn with another five birdies, including consecutive ones in the final two holes.

Kokocinski said “living in his second home” in Thailand helped him cope with the conditions to start well.

“I am very comfortable in Thailand, I’ve been staying here for five years now. Residing here helps me cope with the weather which can reach 30 degrees. Overall I was feeling good all day to be honest,” said the Swede.

Kokocinski had missed the cut four times in his last five events, and is aiming to start the New Year on the right foot.

“I have been practicing a lot during Christmas and over the New Year. So now it’s about trusting my work and looking forward to seeing it pay off.”

Leading first round scores

60 – Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA)

62 – Malcolm Kokocinski (SWE), Panuphol Pittayarat (THA)

63 – John Catlin (USA), Pattaraphol Khanthacha (THA)

64 – Prayad Marksaeng (THA)

65 – Weerawit Sakuncharoenrat (THA), Nitithorn Thippong (THA), Sattaya Supupramai (THA), Kwanchai Tannin (THA), Sam Gillis (USA), Sadom Kaewkanjana (THA), Krittin Sunthornnon (THA)