The Tourism and Sports Ministry will hold an “Air Sea Land Southern International Sports Tourism Festival” in a bid to promote the local culture and stimulate the economy of seven provinces in the South.
The ministry cooperated with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), National Sports Development Fund, and Songkhla to hold the 2022 Air Sea Land Southern International Sports Tourism Festival.
Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said on Saturday that the event is held to stimulate the economy after the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the tourism, hotel, sports industry, and sports organising.
It is a key strategy to drive Thailand’s economy and society by combing the concept of organising sports events with tourism.
SAT will also be holding the Air Sea Land Expo in all seven provinces to showcase local products, services, cuisine, beverages and traditions to help generate revenue and stimulate the economy.
SAT governor Kongsak Yodmanee said competitions will be held in air, land and sea sports, such as surfing, jet-skiing, beach versions of teqball, football and volleyball, as well as the martial art pencak silat, triathlon, adventure racing, e-sports and motocross among others.
FIFA referee Titichai Nuanchan was killed in car crash after supervising a Thai League match between Nongbua Pitchaya and Ratchaburi on Friday, the Thai League announced.
Titichai, 43, was heading home in Kalasin province from Pitchaya Stadium in Nongbua Lamphu province when his car left a bend on a poorly lit road.
He was pried from the wreckage and rushed to Nong Bua Hospital but succumbed to his injuries at around 10pm on Friday.
Titichai was employed by the Football Association of Thailand as a first-class referee in Thai League 1. He worked as a FIFA referee from 2012 to 2018 and in 2017-1018 became one of the few Thai referees to preside over international matches. His last international game was at the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2018. He also worked briefly in Vietnam’s V League in 2016.
The game on Friday evening ended with Ratchaburi winning 2-0 after goals from Brazil’s Vanderley Dias Marinho in the 16th minute and Cape Verdean Alvin Fortes in the 45th minute.
A defiant Serena Williams bid an emotional good-bye to the U.S. Open with a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday (September 2), in what may have been the last singles match of her glittering career.
Defeat has always been hard to swallow for the fiercely competitive Williams and no doubt the 7-5 6-7 (4) 6-1 loss to the 46th ranked Australian stung her to her core.
But after a joyous run into the third round there was no shame in a loss to the gritty Tomljanovic, allowing the 23-times Grand Slam winner to exit with dignity intact and head held high.
Her three matches, highlighted by a second-round win over world number two Anett Kontaveit, were a gift to her fans, the relentless never surrender attitude that made her tennis’ dominant player for over two decades on display right until the very final point.
“It’s been a fun ride and the most incredible ride and journey I’ve been on,” Williams, fighting back tears, told the cheering crowd.
Always up for a fight, the 40-year-old came out swinging, forcing Tomljanovic to go the distance.
The Australian needed six match points to deliver the knockout punch and bring an end to an engrossing three-plus-hour slugfest.
Williams had signalled her intention to retire last month, saying she was “evolving away from tennis” but never confirming the U.S. Open as her final event.
Given the opportunity to put speculation to rest that the U.S. Open may not be the end, Williams left the door open just a crack.
Asked whether she might be tempted to return to tennis, she responded: “I don’t think so but you never know.”
For fans, however, the message was clear, the U.S. Open would be where Williams would take her final bow.
“It’s been a fun ride,” said a tearful Serena Williams as she accepted the passionate screams of 24,000 feverish fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
After 27 years, 23 major titles and a little over 1,000 matches, her professional tennis career (we think) was finally over.
The good news, for the millions who idolise her, is that Williams went out in style. No whimper here, just the bang of aces raining down from her racket as she pushed Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic past the three-hour mark.
The drama was as gripping as it had been during Williams’s final performance at Wimbledon, almost ten weeks ago, when she lost to Harmony Tan in a deciding-set tie-break.
This time, she clung to the final moments of her tenure with an iron grip. Tomljanovic served for the match at 5-1 in the deciding set, and moved to 40-30 with reasonable comfort. Then the resistance kicked in, with Williams banging Tomljanovic’s serve back past her with a primal yell.
Four more match points came and went, as Williams kept coming up with world-class groundstrokes as if she were playing at her very peak. And yet, to Tomljanovic’s credit, she held her nerve in the face of what could well have been the loudest cheers ever heard on this stadium.
Eventually, at the sixth time of asking, Williams put one last forehand in the net and the contest was over, by a 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 scoreline. It was the first time she had gone past three hours at the US Open, although the duration of 3hr 5min fell just short of the 3hr 11min she lasted against Tan at Wimbledon.
The standard of the opposition, and of the match itself, was considerably higher than it had been during that memorable night on Centre Court. While Tomljanovic’s ranking might be unspectacular, at No46 in the world, she is an unusually clean ball-striker who delivers a heavy punch off both wings.
Despite a sticky period early in the second set, when an inspired Williams ran out to a 4-0 lead, Tomljanovic made sure that the contest was physical throughout. Little by little, she wore down Williams’s endurance and took advantage of the 11-year age gap.
Tomljanovic also handled the on-court interview with great class, telling Mary Joe Fernandez that “I am feeling really sorry because I love Serena just as much as you guys. What she has for me and the sport of tennis is incredible and I never thought I would have the chance to play her in her last match.”
“Simply the best” was the stadium DJ’s apposite choice as the players shook hands and prepared themselves for their post-match chat. The fans waited to hear their thoughts, on a night when the US Open broke attendance records for the third time in this extraordinary week.
Williams became emotional as she thanked her parents, saying “These are happy tears, I guess. I don’t know. And I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus, so thank you, Venus. She’s the only reason that Serena Williams ever existed.”
She also seemed to leave a bit of wiggle room on the question of whether this was actually her final match. When Fernandez asked her if she might reconsider, she replied ”I don’t think so, but you never know.”
Half-an-hour later, though, Williams sounded clearer in her thinking when she addressed reporters in the interview room at Flushing Meadows.
“It takes a lot of work to get here,” she said. “Clearly I’m still capable. It takes a lot more than that. I’m ready to be a mom, explore a different version of Serena. Technically in the world I’m still super young, so I want to have a little bit of a life while I’m still walking.”
So what will Williams do on her first day as a civilian? “I’m definitely resting tomorrow,” she replied, “and then probably spending some time with my daughter.” And then, after a moment’s thought, she added the punchline. “I think I’m going to be karaoke-ing tomorrow.”
Serena Williams loses at the US Open, as it happened
End of an era Thanks for joining me on a historic occasion. That final game and the entire match will live long in the memory. Full credit must go to Tomljanovic for producing what must have been one of her greatest ever performances.
As for Serena, 186 consecutive weeks at No. 1, four-time Olympic gold medalist, 23-time grand slam titles, 367 grand slams wins, six US Open titles and 73 career titles = the greatest!
Michelle Obama reacts Congrats on an amazing career, Serena Williams! How lucky were we to be able to watch a young girl from Compton grow up to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. I’m proud of you, my friend—and I can’t wait to see the lives you continue to transform with your talents.
James Blake
Serena. Thank you for being you and the inspiration to so many men and women. I’ve never seen a more intense competitor and it was an honor to share a court with you and watch history. Simply the best.
Tiger Woods Serena Williams you’re literally the greatest on and off the court. Thank you for inspiring all of us to pursue our dreams. I love you little sis!!!!!!
Tomljanovic reacts I’m feeling really sorry just because I love Serena just as much as you guys do. What she’s done for me, for the sport of tennis, is incredible.
I never thought I’d have a chance to play her in her last match when I remember watching her in all those finals, so this is a surreal moment for me.
I just thought she would beat me, so the pressure wasn’t on me. Even to the last point, I knew that she’s in a posiion to win even when she’s down 5-1.
That’s just who she is and she’s the greatest of all time. Period.
Serena in tears She thanks her mum, dad and fans: It all started with my parents and they deserve everything. I wouldn’t be Serena if there wasn’t Venus. It’s been a fun ride.
The end One last twirl to the crowd and standing ovation. Simply the best by Tina Turner plays around the stadium.
Williams* 5-7, 7-6, 1-6 Tomljanovic (*denotes next server) Williams return long, 15-0. Williams forehand winner down the line, 15-15. Tomljanovic forehand long, 15-30.
Tomljanovic forehand winner, 30-30. Williams forehand into the net, MATCH POINT.
Williams is not done yet, she goes after Tomljanovic serve and finishes with a drive volley winner, deuce.
Williams forehand return into the tramlines, second match point. Williams forehand down the line and Tomljanovic can’t get the ball back in play, deuce.
Tomljanovic keeps her nerve and hits another forehand winner, third match point. Saved again by Williams with a forehand winner.
Williams is rushed and her backhand goes long, fourth match point. Brilliant again from Williams. She is digging in here.
Tomljanovic forehand long, break point Williams. Williams forehand long, deuce.
As we pass the three hour mark, Williams puts a forehand long, fifth match point.
Williams forehand return winner. INCREDIBLE TENNIS. Tomljanovic forehand into the net, break point Williams. Williams forehand long, deuce. The tension is unbearable.
Unreal speed by Williams to reach a drop shot and she puts away a backhand overhead, break point.
Sensational tennis again from Tomljanovic to keep her nerve and put away forehand winner, deuce. We are approaching the 14 minute mark.
Tomljanovic ace, sixth match point. Williams forehand into the net, GAME SET MATCH TOMLJANOVIC.
Patcharajutar Kongkraphan proved that she has been one of the hottest players on domestic tours this season as she reigned supreme after the final round of the 7th Bt2.5 million SAT-TWT Open Road to World Ranking at Kabin Buri Sport Club in Prachinburi on Friday.
The 30-year-old from Khon Kaen won all her four previous events in Thailand between July and August – two in the 4th and 5th circuits of the SAT-TWT Opens at the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course and Lake View Resort and Golf Club and the other two occurred at the Springfield Village and Spa in Petchaburi and Vintage Club in Samut Prakarn.
She carded a final round of 65 (eight birdies and one bogey) to win on 18-under-par 198, five strokes ahead of Arpichaya Yubol.
“I played unbelievably well. I felt good with my iron. With the confidence that I’m having at the moment, I can shoot scores whenever opportunities open ajar,” said Patcharajutar or P.K. who has won all her latest five tournaments on homesoil. She also landed at tied fourth in the Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Indonesia two weeks ago.
“Everything about my game went pretty smoothly. I was so focused today and barely gave my opponents any chance to breathe on my neck,” added the former world top 80.
“Even I have been on a winning streak in Thailand, I never expect to do more as I’m more concerned with what I have to do on the greens. I give my all in every tournament I enter. However, it would be nice if I keep winning,” added Patcharajutar who received the winner’s cheque of Bt367,500. Thus far, she has 16 professional wins under her belt.
Arpichaya, 20 from Saraburi started with an early bogey on the second hole before rebounding to shoot seven birdies for a 66 and a total 13 under-par-203.
“I had so many birdies. I couldn’t be happier with my game. I feel more confident after I came back from playing in Europe,” said Arpichaya who again had to settle at second on the Thai WPGA Tour after her runner-up positions in the first and second circuits last year. She took home Bt233,440 as the runner-up.
Posting a lone third finish on 12 under-par-204 was Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong who also signed off at this position on the Thailand Mixed event last Sunday.
The next Thai WPGA Tour, the 8th SAT-TWT Open Road to World Ranking which offers an overall prize money of Bt2.5 million, will next stop at the Rancho Charnvee Country Club in Nakhon Ratchasima between September 28-30. A total of 10 SAT-TWT Open events are scheduled for the 2021-2022 season.
The SAT-TWT Open Road to World Ranking is sponsored by the Sports Authority of Thailand, National Sports Development Fund, Siam Commercial Bank, P Overseas Steal (Public Company Limited) and Kabin Buri Sport Club in Prachinburi. Fans can catch up with news updates on ThaiWPGA Facebook Fanpage or at http://www.thaiwpga.com.
Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek will fight Turkish kickboxer Erkan Varol in a bare-knuckle boxing match at CentralWorld in Bangkok on Saturday.
The venue was changed from Rajadamnern Stadium to CentralWorld. They will fight in a squared circle ring in bare-knuckle boxing.
The match has been designed as a fast-paced and exciting fight, inspired by Broughton’s rules that fighters must put their toes on the line, a distance of three feet from the opponent.
Apart from this fight, the competition “BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth” on Saturday will feature 12 more matches with 24 fighters.
Geopolitical tensions simmered at the US Open on Thursday as Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk refused the customary handshake at the net when Belarusian Victoria Azarenka defeated her 6-2 6-3 in the second round.
The pair exchanged a quick tap of the racket on Court 17 after Kostyuk whacked the ball into the net on the third match point and the three-time Flushing Meadows finalist let out a triumphant roar.
“Well, I wasn’t surprised. I don’t believe that making a big deal out of it is important. I always shake hands with my opponents,” said Azarenka, who added that Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska had done the same in Washington, D.C., last month.
“I cannot force anybody to shake my hand. It’s their decision. How did it make me feel? It’s not the most important thing in the world right now.”
It marked the latest uneasy moment at the year’s final major, where Russians, Belarusians and Ukrainians compete alongside one another against the backdrop of military conflict.
Belarus is being used as a key staging ground for Russia’s war in Ukraine, which Moscow terms a “special operation.”
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of waging an unprovoked imperial-style war of aggression.
Kostyuk has repeatedly called for the WTA to ban Russian athletes from the Tour and told the Times last month that the invasion made Russian players on the tour into “enemies in a matter of minutes,” detailing how her family huddled in Kyiv amid assaults on the capital.
Days before their second-round meeting, it was the 20-year-old Kostyuk’s objections that helped prompt Azarenka to pull out of the tournament’s “Tennis Plays for Peace Exhibition” to raise humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
Azarenka said she was asked by the USTA to participate in the event and said at the time it was “a no-brainer” to accept.
“I thought that this was a gesture that really shows commitment. I’m not sure why it wasn’t taken that way. I don’t want to judge that, that’s what happened,” she told reporters.
“I can’t force it. I’m not going to go and say, ‘Oh, how dare you?’ It’s not my place. My place is to be there to offer, offer my help, and that’s it.
Most of the global sporting community moved swiftly to isolate Russia and Belarus after the invasion began in February but tennis players from the two countries avoided tour-level suspensions, with the sport’s governing bodies requiring they compete under neutral flags.
Wimbledon took it one step further when they banned athletes from both countries at this year’s major, which meant Russian world number one Daniil Medvedev could not take part.
The U.S. Open said Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete without their flag or country displayed, a move that frustrated some Ukrainian competitors, including 2019 semi-finalist Elina Svitolina who said organisers “should have taken more serious action,”
Asked what the tour could do to resolve the bitterness between players, top seed Iga Swiatek said: “Basically I think it’s already too late.
“The best time for ATP or WTA to do anything was when the war started, and where the tension was pretty big, I mean, in the locker rooms,” she told reporters after beating Sloane Stephens in the second round on Thursday.
Swiatek added that she hoped the governing bodies could arrange meetings between some of the players, “showing that we should be united”.
Manchester United completed a third Premier League win on the bounce by beating Leicester 1-0 at the King Power Stadium on Thursday evening.
Jadon Sancho’s brilliant goal, scored midway through the first half, was enough to seal the victory for Erik ten Hag’s side away from home.
Great play between Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford resulted in the ball being threaded through to Sancho and the England international rounded Danny Ward in the Foxes goal to score.
David De Gea saved well from James Maddison’s free-kick after the break, but United had the better opportunities to double our lead and were comfortable in closing out the win, which takes us up to fifth in the top-flight table.
FIRST HALF – REDS ON TOP
Despite a relatively even opening 10 minutes, it was United who quickly put our stamp on the game. Christian Eriksen had the first effort on goal, but his fizzing effort bounced just wide of the post.
The home side registered the first shot on target, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s bending strike was saved easily by De Gea.
Just minutes later, the Reds opened the scoring, as excellent pressure by Dalot allowed the pitch to open up for United.
A couple of touches between Dalot, Fernandes and Rashford were all that was required for Sancho to find himself in space and slot home with complete composure, for his second goal of the season.
Our forward line continued to pick up great positions between the lines and Rashford played in Sancho once again but his effort was well blocked by James Justin, while Harvey Barnes whipped a shot just over the bar.
SECOND HALF – UNITED SHOW RESILIENCE
It was a confident and self-assured first-half from the Reds, but Leicester quickly grew into the game, rousing their home fans. Maddison’s curling 25-yard free-kick was tipped away by De Gea to prevent it from nestling in the top corner.
Moments later, Dewsbury-Hall whipped a dangerous ball into the box but Barnes couldn’t quite get his free header under control, with the ball just too high for him.
For the next 10 minutes or so, the chasing pack of Leicester pinned United into our own half, prompting Ten Hag to introduce Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo in place of Anthony Elanga and Sancho respectively.
Ronaldo was instrumental in what could have been a second goal for us, but his pass was intercepted before it could reach Eriksen who would have had a tap-in.
Our no.7 came close himself just moments later, getting on the end of Dalot’s cross with a speculative overhead kick that went just wide.
Just when it seemed the win was secure, Justin had a golden chance during added time but he blazed his effort over De Gea’s goal.
Although the Foxes dominated large portions of the second half, United’s defence once more had the answer to everything that was thrown at them to see out yet another win, and secure another clean sheet on the road.
The jury in the trial of former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs was discharged on Wednesday (August 31) after failing to reach verdicts on charges he committed assault and controlling behaviour towards his then girlfriend.
Giggs, 48, faced charges of causing actual bodily harm to Kate Greville along with controlling and coercive behaviour. He also faced a charge of common assault of Greville’s sister Emma.
The jury of seven women and four men told the judge they had been unable to reach verdicts after a trial which had lasted over three weeks.
The Crown Prosecution Service now has seven days to decide whether to proceed with a retrial.
Giggs, the former Wales manager, had pleaded not guilty to the charges and his defence said the allegations were “based on distortion, exaggeration and lies”.
The former United player was first arrested in the case and released on bail in November 2020.
Manchester United have completed the signing of Brazil winger Antony from Ajax Amsterdam, the Premier League club said in a statement on Thursday.
The 22-year-old, who joins for a reported initial fee of 80.75 million pounds ($93.65 million) and who played under United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax, signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year, United said.
“This is an incredible moment in my career to be joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world,” Antony told the club’s website.
Antony registered 12 goals and 10 assists in 33 games in all competitions as Ajax won a third straight Eredivisie title and made the last 16 in the Champions League last season.
He has been capped nine times by Brazil since his debut in 2021, scoring twice.
“Playing under Erik ten Hag was perfect for me and my development,” Antony added. “His style of football and coaching brings out the best in me…”
“My time at Ajax was fantastic … but now I am ready for the next challenge, and I can’t wait to join my new team mates and play my part in bringing success to Manchester United.”
United are 12th in the Premier League standings with six points from four games. They travel to bottom side Leicester City on Thursday.
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