Mickelson and Woods will be teammates for holders United States against Europe when the 42nd Ryder Cup begins Friday at France’s Le Golf National.

But it’s questionable if Woods, a 42-year-old winner of 14 major titles, and left-hander Mickelson, a five-time major champion at age 48, would be united in foursomes or four-balls by US captain Jim Furyk.

“I think we would both welcome it,” said Mickelson, who has grown closer to Woods since they began work on a USA Ryder Cup task force in 2014.

Asked if the pairing might happen, Mickelson said: “I do have an idea of what captain Furyk is thinking, yeah.” Asked to elaborate, Mickelson answered: “What a good looking man you are.”

Rivals most of their careers, they were partnered in 2004 by US captain Hal Sutton when they were the two top-ranked players in the event.

On day one, they dropped a morning four-ball match 2&1 and were defeated in foursomes 1up, losing the final hole after Mickelson sailed his tee shot into deep woods left of the fairway and Woods gave him a death stare for the ages.

“When we go over like little details as to why we were or weren’t successful, when I talk about it openly and try to share insight, sometimes it comes across like I’m trying to take a shot at somebody, and I don’t want to do that, so I’m not going to go into that anymore,” Mickelson said of their 2004 pairing.

Mickelson notably revealed the lack of input by players into captain Tom Watson’s decisions in a 2014 loss at Gleneagles, then became closer to Woods when they combined in a US attempt to improve Ryder Cup results in the wake of the flop in Scotland.

“That’s a big part of it,” Mickelson said. “When we started to really work together to succeed in the Ryder Cup, I think we realised that we both have a lot more in common than we thought and we both have really come to appreciate working together to achieve things.”

Mickelson said he and Woods would fare better together now.

“The bottom line is going to be preparation,” Mickelson said. “When we can eliminate the variables, eliminate the uncertainties, it eliminates the pressure.”

Mickelson, set to face Woods in a pay-per-view golf showdown in November, asked Woods to be given a shot per side for their $9 million clash in Las Vegas after Woods snapped a five-year win drought two days ago by winning the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

“I’m trying to negotiate a shot a side,” Mickelson said. “It didn’t go over very well in the initial discussions but I’m still working on it. We’ve got some negotiating to do, given how well he played last week.”

– A win to cherish? –

Mickelson makes his 12th Ryder Cup appearance, having played in 12 in a row since 1995. But Americans haven’t won in Europe in 25 years, something Mickelson wants to change in what is likely his last chance as a player.

“I am aware this is most likely the last one on European soil and my last opportunity,” he said. “That would mean a lot to me personally. I think it would mean a lot to our team and to the United States.

“If we were able to come out on top, it would be something I would cherish the rest of my life. Because I’ve played in these events for so long and have never won over here, it would be one of the moments I would cherish the most if we were able to come out on top.”

The sparse crowd watching the late-night clash was stunned as the decidedly off-colour Halep failed to win a single game against the hard-hitting Slovakian in the first set.

The French Open champion suffered a back injury during a practice session on Sunday, and failed to fully recover for her opening match in Wuhan against the 31st-ranked Cibulkova, despite two days bed rest.

“It was tough at the beginning to play… (but) I didn’t want to (retire) and I just pushed myself to play better and better,” Halep said.

Despite the injury and needing treatment several times during the match, she put up a strong fight in the second set, breaking Cibulkova’s serve three times before eventually succumbing 7-5.

Even with the injury, “I was close in the second set, so this match just gives me confidence that my level is really, really good”, said the top seed, who was cheered every time she ran back after treatment to resume play.

Halep, playing her first match since her early exit from the US Open last month, added that she expects to recover from the back injury “in a few days”.

She was the biggest casualty on a day of upsets at the 2018 Wuhan Open, a $2.7-million tournament which features nine of the WTA top 10.

World number four Caroline Garcia was knocked out by qualifier Katerina Siniakova in a gruelling clash, with the second and third sets decided by tie-breakers.

Earlier, local favourite Wang Qiang ousted the 7th-ranked Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in another thriller while 6th-ranked Elina Svitolina also failed to impress, going down 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 to Aryna Sabalenka.

– Kerber, Wozniacki advance –

It was a much happier day for Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber and Australian Open holder Caroline Wozniacki, both proceeding comfortably to the next round.

Wozniacki, who received a first-round bye, was barely troubled by the 61st-ranked Swede Rebecca Peterson, winning 6-4, 6-1 to set up a third-round clash with Olympic champion Monica Puig, who romped past Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2.

World number two Wozniacki is looking for a good run in Wuhan to secure a return to the WTA Finals, which she won last year.

“It’s great to get a good start, obviously. Every match counts,” Wozniacki said.

“I’m just trying to keep my head down and keep focused and try to win as much as I can to get that (WTA Finals) spot.”

The 3rd-ranked Kerber — along with Halep — has already qualified for the Finals, which will be held in Singapore next month, and advanced after a knee injury forced her American opponent Madison Keys to retire.

The German looked set for a big win over the 2017 US Open semi-finalist and was leading 6-0, 4-1 when Keys could not continue.

Kerber could return to world number one with a successful end to the season, and the chances of that have been boosted by Halep’s wobble in Wuhan.

Mourinho paid the price for making nine changes in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Old Trafford before spot-kicks with Paul Pogba rested on another day dominated by the Frenchman’s frosty relationship with his manager.

Phil Jones finally missed from the spot after 15 successful penalties in a high quality shootout.

“The penalties come, somebody has to miss. I knew we were going to be in trouble with Jones,” said Mourinho in a barb at one of his own players.

Mourinho also confirmed Pogba has been stripped of the United vice-captaincy after criticising the Portuguese’s tactics in a 1-1 draw at home to Wolves on Saturday.

“The only truth is I made the decision of Paul not to be the second captain anymore,” added Mourinho.

Early on it seemed like the United boss would get a positive response from his much-changed side as one of Lampard’s former Chelsea team-mates Juan Mata slotted home the opener after just three minutes at the end of a fine team move.

However, an unchanged Derby side struck back after the break thanks to a wonderful free-kick from on-loan Liverpool striker Harry Wilson.

Moments later, United goalkeeper Sergio Romero saw red for handling another Wilson effort outside the area.

The visitors made the man advantage count when Jack Mariott headed home five minutes from time, but Marouane Fellaini looked to have saved Mourinho’s blushes with a towering header deep into stoppage time.

However, substitute United ‘keeper Lee Grant failed to stop any of Derby’s penalties and Jones finally faltered to compound a bad start to the season for Mourinho’s men, who already trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by eight points.

“It’s right up there,” said Lampard when asked how the trumph compared to his highs as a player.

“You feel like you’ve done your work when you come to Old Trafford and go against Jose Mourinho and world class players. The feeling I got from it was immense, it’s an incredible feeling for me.”

– Foden shines –

City boss Pep Guardiola enjoyed a far more comfortable evening despite also ringing the changes as England under-19 international Phil Foden shone in a 3-0 win at League One Oxford.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment, growing up as a City supporter,” said Foden. “It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

The visitors dominated throughout but had just the one goal to show for it before half-time as Gabriel Jesus headed home from close range.

Fresh from his first two goals for the club at Cardiff on Saturday, Riyad Mahrez then thrashed home a second on the counter-attack 12 minutes from time.

And Foden rounded off a fine individual display with his first senior goal for the club in stoppage time.

Another League One side Burton provided the other upset of the night by coming from behind to beat Premier League Burnley 2-1.

The Clarets went in front through Kevin Long, but Burton reached the fourth round for the first time in their history as Liam Boyce levelled before Jamie Allen poked home the winner.

The only all Premier League tie of the night saw Leicester edge out in-form Wolves 3-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw thanks to three shootout saves from Danny Ward.

Fulham’s strength in depth was in evidence as they swept aside Championship Millwall 3-1 at The Den despite making 10 changes.

Crystal Palace proved too strong for West Brom as an Andros Townsend double and Patrick Van Aanholt secured a 3-0 win at the Hawthorns.

Bournemouth struck late through Callum Wilson to squeeze past Blackburn 3-2 after blowing a two-goal lead in the second-half.

Jordan Rhodes’s hat-trick ensured Norwich saw off a second-half fightback from Wycombe to edge through 4-3.

Middlesbrough progressed 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw with Preston and League One Blackpool beat Championship strugglers QPR 2-0.

Mercury MENA “failed to pay its workers thousands of dollars in wages and work benefits, leaving them stranded and penniless” in the country, according to the London-based rights group.

However in response, football’s governing body FIFA accused Amnesty of being “misleading” and said the non-payments were not connected to the 2022 tournament.

Amnesty alleges that at least 78 employees from Nepal, India and the Philippines had not been paid since February 2016 and were owed an average of $2,000 (1,700 euros) — for some the equivalent of several months’ wages.

In some cases this had “ruined lives”, said Amnesty, which urged the Doha government to pay the workers, some of whom took out huge loans to secure a job in the super-wealthy Gulf state.

One worker, Ernesto, a piping foreman from the Philippines, told Amnesty he was in greater debt after working in Qatar for two years than before he arrived in the country.

Other labourers from Nepal said they had to take their children out of school or sell land to cover debts incurred by working in Qatar.

“By ensuring they get the wages which they are owed, Qatar can help these migrant workers to rebuild their lives,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s director of global issues.

It claimed Mercury MENA “took advantage” of Qatar’s “kafala” system, which prevents workers from changing jobs or leaving the country without the permission of bosses.

Unpaid workers eventually allowed to leave Qatar only did so at their own cost, said Amnesty.

As well as helping build Lusail city, which is also the venue for the 2022 football tournament’s opening match, Mercury MENA helped build a showcase stadium that was an integral part of Qatar’s winning presentation to FIFA in December 2010.

In November, Amnesty spoke to the company’s chief executive, who acknowledged “cashflow problems”. There has been no further response.

However, FIFA rejected the Amnesty claims.

“We have no reason to believe the reported violations of workers’ rights are in fact linked to FIFA and the 2022 World Cup,” a spokesman told AFP.

“We regret Amnesty chose to frame its statement in such a misleading manner.”

The findings come at a time when the World Cup host is under intense scrutiny over labour rights.

Earlier this month, Doha said it would abolish exit permits — a cornerstone of the kafala system likened to modern-day slavery — but has not given a date for when this will come into force.

In April, the International Labour Organization opened an office in Doha, part of an agreement under which the United Nations agency will oversee wholesale labour reform in the emirate.

There are some two million foreign workers in Qatar, many employed directly or indirectly on vast World Cup infrastructure projects.

Considered by many as revolutionary as the internet, a blockchain is a database that is shared across a network of hundreds of computers. Once a record has been added to the chain it is very difficult to tamper with. And to ensure all copies of the database are the same, the network makes constant checks.

Blockchains have been used most prominently as the tool behind cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but many other possible uses from medical records to banking — and now sports — are emerging.

“Blockchain has the power to be the underlying infrastructure upon which sport functions,” Michael Broughton of Sports Investment Partners told AFP as the two-day World Football Summit got underway in Madrid.

“Much as mobile phones and apps are today a broader expression of the underlying internet so sport can build upon blockchain.”

After French champions Paris Saint-Germain announced earlier this month that they were launching their own cryptocurrency in partnership with Socios.com, a blockchain company based in Malta, Italian giants Juventus announced Monday they would do the same.

Fans of the two clubs will be able to buy club-branded tokens that come with voting rights as well as access to exclusive content and rewards.

– ‘Limitles potential’ –

English side Arsenal announced in January they had reached an agreement with California-based Cashbet to launch their own cryptocurrency which would be used to bet on matches.

The technology could also have significant implications for ticket sales.

European football governing body UEFA used blockchain technology to sell all of the tickets for the Super Cup final in Tallinn in August between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid over mobile phones, preventing the duplication of tickets.

In a sign of the growing interest of the football world in blockchain, Barcelona’s Argentine star Lionel Messi in December became a brand ambassador for Israeli start-up Sirin Labs which has developed an ultra-secure mobile phone that uses the technology.

Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen earlier this year invested in Hong Kong-based Global Crypto Offering Exchange (GCOX), a global platform that allows celebrities to create and list their own “tokens”.

“I believe blockchain technology holds the future. It has limitless potential that we have yet to fully explore,” Owen said at the time.

‘Bring transparency’

The technology is even starting — albeit on a very small scale — to be used to pay players, which some believe could help stamp out corruption in football.

Gibraltar United announced in July that it would become the world’s first football club to pay its players in cryptocurrency while tiny Turkish club Harunustaspor made global headlines at the start of the year by announcing it had carried out the world’s first football transfer of a player in bitcoins.

“It could bring transparency to world of football,” said Pablo Dana of Heritage Sports Holding which owns Gibraltar United and in August bought 25 percent of Italian third division side Rimini using a digital currency.

Broughton agreed, saying “having a player’s identify and registration on the blockchain could provide greater transparency to the transfer and ownership systems”.

The technology could also be used together with big data analytics, to identify future football stars, according to Olivier Jarosz, head of club affairs at the Switzerland-based European Club Association.

“You can through the data base try to find out the biggest potentials without sending 200 scouts,” he said.

But Sam Jones of the London Football Exchange warned that “you can’t insure yourself” against some of the new cryptpocurrencies that use blockchain.

“You relying on hope and hope is the key ingredient of a bubble,” he said.

The Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder starred for both club and country as Madrid won a third straight Champions League, and he inspired Croatia to reach the World Cup final for the first time.

“The emotion is huge because it is thanks to the work of everyone. So many people have come together and so many have supported me,” said Modric.

Modric beat out Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Ronaldo, who along with Messi did not attend the glitzy awards ceremony in London.

Both are in action for Juventus and Barcelona on Wednesday, but their no-show attracted criticism after so many years on top.

“Everyone has their own reasons,” said Modric. “Obviously I would have liked them to be here but they aren’t.”

Modric’s success means Ronaldo remains tied with Messi having won FIFA’s award in different guises five times each.

At 33, Croatia’s run to the final was the culmination of a brilliant career for Modric that had often been overshadowed by Ronaldo’s goalscoring in their time together in the Spanish capital, before the Portuguese left for Juventus in July.

Modric scored twice and also netted in penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia, but it was his playmaking ability that caught the eye in winning the Golden Ball for the best player at the World Cup.

“It was an unbelievable season, the best season in my life,” said Modric.

“I’m still not realising how good a year I had collectively, individually, and I’m very proud for everything I achieved this year and it will be remembered forever.”

For a sixth straight season, Ronaldo was the Champions League’s top scorer with 15 goals and also scored four times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain in a thrilling 3-3 draw to open Portugal’s campaign.

However, Portugal’s last 16 exit to Uruguay in Russia and Ronaldo’s failure to score in the semi-finals or final of the Champions League opened the door for Modric.

– Salah scoops best goal –

For the first time in 12 years, Messi was not among the finalists with Salah earning a place on the podium for his incredible 44-goal debut season with Liverpool that carried the Reds to the Champions League final.

Salah did not go away empty-handed, however, as he picked up the Puskas award for best goal for his strike against Everton in the Merseyside derby last December.

Modric was joined by Real team-mates Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo in the FIFPro team of the year, also featuring David De Gea, Dani Alves, N’Golo Kante, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Messi and Ronaldo.

“I am as happy as if I had won it,” said Ramos of Modric’s success. “He deserves it, he is an excellent player and has marked an important era in the history of Real Madrid.”

France’s World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps won the best coach of the year prize in recognition for his work in leading Les Bleus to success in Russia.

Deschamps, who became just the third man to win the World Cup as a player and coach, beat off competition from Dalic and his former France team-mate Zinedine Zidane, who won a third consecutive Champions League title with Real Madrid before resigning in June.

Thibaut Courtois won the best goalkeeper award for helping Belgium reach the World Cup semi-finals as well as the FA Cup with Chelsea before a summer move to Madrid.

Brazil’s Marta was crowned best women’s player for a record sixth time for her role in winning the Copa America to beat out Lyon duo Ada Hegerberg and Dzsenifer Marozsan.

Lyon boss Reynald Pedros did win the award for best women’s coach, though, after winning the Champions League with the French giants.

The number 3-ranked American, Blaydes will be facing rising star, Francis Ngannou (11-3, fighting out of Las Vegas, USA inside the world-famous Octagon®. This is a highly anticipated rematch between two of the division’s heaviest hitters, their unfinished business is set to thrill fans inside the Cadillac Arena.

Both athletes are looking to impress the crowd and UFC Executives as they strive to be next in line for a championship title shot.

In addition to Blaydes, there were many of China’s top UFC athletes in attendance today who spoke with fans and media about what the upcoming event means to them. China’s most successful MMA athlete and local hometown hero, Li Jingliang “The Leech” (15-5, fighting out of Beijing, China) joined Blaydes on stage.

Leech took the opportunity to express how UFC Fight Night Beijing is a dream come true and talked of his hopes for participating in the event in front of his friends and family. Other local athletes present today included women’s UFC flyweight Yanan Wu “Mulan” (9-2, fighting out of Liaoning, China),Song Kenan (13-3, fighting out of Beijing, China) and Zhang Weili (17-1, fighting out of Beijing, China). “Oursell out debut event in Shanghai last November has just been voted the best MMA event in Asia of 2017/2018, this is a fantastic achievement and one that would not be possible without the support of our passionate fans and valued partners.

” UFC Vice President of Asia Pacific Kevin Chang said. “We’re already building on this success with the upcoming debut UFC event in Beijing this November. Fans can expect to experience another enthralling night of premium MMA.”

Once again, UFC in conjunction with Sina Sports will be searching for this year’s Octagon Girl as a nationwide search, presented by Monster Energy, launchestoday. Last year, the search attracted over 800 hopefuls with Wang Jing Jing from Beijing and Pan Xiao from Suzhou being crowned the first UFC Octagon Girls from China.

This year’s successful candidate will earn a contract for UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING: BLAYDES vs. NGANNOU, Presented by General Tire along with Filipina Red Dela Cruz. Fan favourite Cruz recently won Ring Girl of the Year at the Asia MMA Awards. UFC is working together with Endeavor China, a subsidiary of Endeavor, to deliver the live event again this year.

“Endeavor China is excited to once again bring UFC, the world’s premier professional MMA organization, to fans in China. After last year’s overwhelmingly successful event in Shanghai, we are happy to announce that this year’s UFC Fight Night event will take place in the country’s capital city, Beijing,” said David He, Vice President of Music & Live Entertainment, Endeavor China.

He continued, “We are also excited to work with Damai Sports to promote this event to a wider range of fanbase. ” Damai Sports has officially become the co-promoter of this Beijing event which is also supported by China Boxing Federation. Fans in China will be given a night to remember as the heavyweight starslead an international card of skilled mixed martial artists.

Each athlete will demonstrate their abilities and eagerness to impress the Beijing crowd and UFC fans around the world. UFC FIGHT NIGHT® BEIJING: NGANNOU vs. BLAYDES, Presented by General Tire also includes the following matchups.

Bouts are subject to change:  Chinese light heavyweight prospect Yaozhong Hu (3-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) meets knockout artist Rashad Coulter (8-4, fighting out of Dallas, USA)  In a women’s flyweight showdown, well-rounded Yanan Wu (9-2, fighting out of Xi’an, China) faces Shana Dobson (3-3, fighting out of Fort Worth, USA)  Yan Xiaonan (9-1, fighting out of Beijing, China) will meet Japan’s Syuri Kondo (6-1, fighting out of Tokyo, Japan) in a women’s strawweight match-up

For the first time, the world’s top 10 players will all compete in the biennial showdown when the rivals tee off Friday at Le Golf National, a 12-man US lineup with 11 of the world’s top 17 players out to end a quarter-century of European frustration.

“We’re reminded of it quite often. So is it extra motivation? I’m not sure you really need extra motivation,” US captain Jim Furyk said on Monday. “There’s a thorn in their side.”

Tiger Woods, a 14-time major winner who snapped a five-year win drought Sunday, has been on a Cup-winning team only once in seven tries, never in Europe. Phil Mickelson has never enjoyed the feeling either since the last US triumph in Europe came in 1993 at The Belfry in England.

“That’s a part that’s missing in their careers,” Furyk said. “It’s not anything I need to mention in the team room. There’s not like a big ’25’ sitting in there anywhere. They are well aware of it and of how difficult it is to win in Europe. That’s the battle we fight this week.”

European captain Thomas Bjorn has world number two Justin Rose coming off a $10 million payday for capturing the US PGA playoff prize and half his team flew in from America early Monday as did the entire US squad.

“One thing I learned about the Ryder Cup is that no matter how tired you are, you are going to carry yourself and everything, all the last bit of adrenaline in your body, even if you have played a lot,” the Dane said.

“This is about what you do as a team and it’s about trying to win this trophy back to Europe. It’s a completely different beast, the Ryder Cup, than playing in a regular tour event so they’re pretty excited about it.”

– Furyk likes Europe fans –

Furyk said he expects chants and songs and good-natured heckling that are part of the emotional Cup scene but nothing over the top.

“Do I think we’re in for a hostile (reception)? No, I don’t,” Furyk said. “I do really admire the European crowd and I know they will be loud and I’m anxious to see it.

“I’ve always felt kind of a mutual respect. I know they will be loud. I know they will be boisterous. That’s something my players have to respect but hopefully they enjoy. Hopefully they thrive on that.”

The Americans are excited after an emotional victory for 13th-ranked Woods coming off spinal fusion surgery that had spectators swarming the 42-year-old icon, who was nearly moved to tears.

“It’s obviously a nice buzz for our team,” Furyk said. “Not that this event needs much more energy brought to it — it’s probably the biggest, the grandest event in all of golf — but it will add that much more excitement.”

In all, 21 of the world’s 28 top-ranked players will compete in the event.

“This is probably the strongest American team we’ve ever had and I would venture to guess it’s maybe the strongest team Europe has ever fielded as well, from top to bottom,” Furyk said. “Be a tough week for us but we’re looking forward to that challenge.”

– Three practice days vital –

Furyk said the upcoming three days of practice on the 7,183-yard layout will be vital to American hopes this week.

“These next three days are very key for us to get to know this golf course, to understand as best we can the ins and outs,” Furyk said.

“Six of my players have played the golf course before and six haven’t.

“The European side is going to know the golf course a lot better. That’s one of the things we have to overcome in that preparation, and learning this golf course first is most important.”

Both captains say they are nearly set on pairings for foursomes and four-ball matches.

“You prepare yourself 80-90 percent, and then you know there’s a few little bits that can move,” Bjorn said. “You’re pretty much set in your mind where it’s all going to go.”

The inaugural event, at the Chang International Circuit between October 5-7, will be the first in a three-year deal between the Sports Authority of Thailand and Dorna Sports, at an annual cost of Bt100 million.

SAT, on behalf of Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and in collaboration with Buriram Provincial Government Office and main sponsor PTT, yesterday held its final pre-race media conference and announced their readiness to stage the historic event.

“This is a monumental leap forward for Thailand and demonstrates our capacity to host a world-class sporting event which will be broadcast to more than 800 million viewers worldwide,” Weerasak said.

“Thailand is now fully prepared to accommodate hundreds of thousands of racers, motorsport fans, and local and foreign visitors flocking to Thailand and Buriram province,” added the minister, who predicted that the Grand Prix would generate Bt1 billion revenue to the Kingdom and attract more than 100,000 people to Buriram.

In terms of the venue, Tanaisiri Chanvitayarom, managing director of the Buriram United International Circuit, said the track and its facilities had been renovated to ensure a successful organisation.

“We are currently working very hard to ensure everything is in top condition and we will definitely be ready to welcome everyone by race week. We have been expanding our stands so spectators can catch the action from every vantage point,” he said.

Parking areas have been expanded around Buriram’s Muang district to maximise convenience for visitors. There are free shuttle buses to the circuit, while 26 parking areas for cars and motorcycle inside and outside the circuit’s compound will be able to accommodate more than 10,000 vehicles.

Tanaisiri also added that the media centre had been modified to facilitate journalists from around the world while additional media pavilions had been created to provide support for Thai journalists.

Apart from the race, there will also be other activities and entertainment, including a Muay Thai Expo and bouts featuring legendary Muay Thai boxers such as Samart Payakaroon and Somluck Kamsing on October 5.

On the evening of Saturday, October 6, motorsport fans can switch gears and enjoy performances at a Chang Music Connection concert, which will feature top Thai acts such as Waan Thanakrit, Atom Chanakant and Getsunova.

The grand weekend will end with a bang as girl group BNK48 will perform a mini-concert on Sunday, October 7.

Certified by the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) with support from Kanchanaburi state agencies and the State Railway of Thailand, and BEC-Tero Entertainment, the event will feature a half-marathon (21.1km), mini-marathon (10.5km) and a fun run (5km).

The route for all three events is surrounded by beautiful scenery, a major highlight being the bridge on the River Kwai, the province’s most important historical symbol. The bridge was a mammoth World War II PoW project ordered by the Japanese army, later made famous by an equally epic film.

“This is the third time the event has been held by the AAT. The past two years were successful – a huge number of runners participated. The event follows all international protocols and our staff members will be there taking care of all runners throughout the routes,” said AAT President Pol Gen Sant Sarutanond.

All runners will receive running jerseys with numbered bibs, as well as medals after completing the event. Specially made “Finisher” towels will be distributed to all Half-Marathon finishers.

Registrations are now open for 2,000 half-marathon runners, 3,000 mini-marathon runners and 3,000 participants in the fun run.

Sataworn “Kru Din” Chanpongsri, former Thailand national team runner and 1985 SEA Games bronze medalist, said: “I always take part in this running event, which is organised amid great natural surroundings. This is one of the events I just cannot miss.”

Applications can now be submitted through ThaiTicketMajor until October 31, 2018.

For more information, visit http://www.thaiticketmajor.com or call 095-314-9160.