Thailand’s national football team beat Sri Lanka 2-0 to keep their Group C campaign in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on track on Saturday.
The Thai team opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a strike by Thitiphan Puangchan. Fellow midfielder Worachit Kanitsribampen secured three points when he fired home in extra time.
The win at Markaziy Stadium in Namangan, Uzbekistan gave the War Elephants six points after two games.
Thailand are now second in Group C behind Uzbekistan on goal difference after the hosts crushed the Maldives 4-0.
In their opening match of the tournament, Thailand trounced the Maldives 3-0, while Sri Lanka lost to Uzbekistan 3-0.
The six group winners plus five best runners-up will qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup finals.
The Thais face Uzbekistan on Tuesday at Markaziy Stadium, 10pm kick-off, Thailand time.
Thaworn Wiratchant won the US$1-million NSDF-Thai Senior Hua Hin Open on Friday, adding yet more silverware to his trophy cabinet.
The 55-year-old Thai veteran, who holds the record for most wins on the Asian Tour, tamed the Royal Hua Hin Golf Course with a total score of 11-under-par 205.
The win came with a first-prize cheque of 120,000 baht.
Two shots behind in second place was Udorn Duangdecha, who earned 80,000 baht for his nine-under-par 207.
Thammanoon Sriroj and Rangsan Raksomjit tied for third on five-under-par 211 and each took home 55,000 baht.
This was the third tournament of the Thai Senior Tour 2022, organised by the Thai Senior Professional Golf Association (TSPGA).
TSPGA president Sutin Darunyothin said all three tournaments so far this season had been a success and thanked organisations and sponsors for their support.
The next tournament on the Thai Senior Tour will be held in August.
Zinedine Zidane’s advisor denies rumours that former France great is on the verge of replacing Paris St Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Zinedine Zidane’s advisor denied on Friday (June 10) that the former France great is set to replace Mauricio Pochettino as Paris St Germain coach next season.
Earlier on Friday, French radio station Europe 1 reported that Zidane would immediately take over, without citing any source.
“All these rumours that are circulating are unfounded,” Alain Migliaccio, Zidane’s advisor, told sports daily L’Equipe.
“To this day, I am the only person allowed to represent and advise Zinedine Zidane. Neither Zinedine Zidane nor myself have been contacted directly by the owner of PSG.”
PSG were not available for comment.
Pochettino, who was appointed 18 months ago, has failed to help the Ligue 1 club break new ground in the Champions League, with PSG being eliminated in the last 16 by Real Madrid this season.
They wrapped up the Ligue 1 title in April to secure their only trophy of the campaign.
Zidane, 49, has been without a club since he departed Real Madrid at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Mohamed Salah has been named the 2021-22 Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year.
The Liverpool No.11 wins the prestigious annual award for the second time, following his achievement in 2017-18, after an outstanding campaign.
Salah was announced as the recipient of the accolade at the PFA Awards on Thursday night, with teammates Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk also having been on the final six-man shortlist.
It is the ninth time a Liverpool player has secured the honour, chosen by his peers, and Salah is the first ever to win it twice while with the club.
“Thank you very much. It is great, always, to win trophies – individual or collective. This one is big. I’m very happy and very proud of that,” he said.
“This one is a really good one to win, especially because it’s voted by players. When I think about it, of course I wanted the Premier League first before anything, the Champions League as well. But as an individual it shows you a little bit that you worked really hard and you get what you worked for kind of. Not just individual – collectively, for sure the team comes first.
Mohamed Salah has been named the 2021-22 Men
“But you win the journalists’ one, you win the players’ one as well, it shows you the season was really good.”
The Egypt international played 51 games for the Reds last season as they lifted the Emirates FA Cup and Carabao Cup at Wembley, while also finishing as narrow runners-up in the Premier League and Champions League.
He netted 31 times in all competitions, moving up to ninth on the club’s all-time highest scorers list, and also registered 15 assists.
His stunning solo strike against Manchester City at Anfield was voted the Premier League’s Goal of the Season and Salah received the Golden Boot and Playmaker awards for most goals and assists in the top flight respectively.
Salah has also been selected as the club’s Standard Chartered Men’s Player of the Season, the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year and PFA Fans’ Player of the Year.
On how his mindset has changed over the years, he added: “When you get older you feel you are more stable, you deal better with pressure and you know exactly what you want from football. I’m just trying to really chill and help the team.
“That’s why I think I won the Playmaker, because you’re more aware of the game, so you try to make the people next to you better and try to make yourself better as well in the game.”
Previous Liverpool winners of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year include Terry McDermott (1980), Kenny Dalglish (1983), Ian Rush (1984), John Barnes (1988), Steven Gerrard (2006), Luis Suarez (2014), Salah (2018) and Van Dijk (2019).
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton said he was speechless after being made an honorary citizen of Brazil when the lower house of parliament passed a bill on Thursday (June 9).
The move had been proposed by congressman Andre Figueiredo after last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix was won by the British driver who unfurled the Brazilian flag at Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit.
Hamilton backed the move in April, when he visited Sao Paulo to deliver a keynote speech at an event focused on business and digital transformation, saying he would be honoured.
“Today I was granted honorary citizenship to one of my favourite places in the world,” Hamilton, who is racing in Azerbaijan this weekend, told his 28.4 million followers on Instagram.
“I don’t really have the words right now. Thank you Brasil, I love you, I can’t wait to see you again.”
The lower house will now hold a solemn session to deliver the 37-year-old the honorary citizenship, with a date yet to be set.
Figueiredo, a member of Brazil’s Democratic Labour Party, praised the Mercedes driver for celebrating the country at last year’s race and noted he has always held up the late Brazilian triple world champion Ayrton Senna as his boyhood idol.
Hamilton, knighted by his own country, had his name chanted along with that of Senna, a local hero, as he carried Brazil’s flag on to the podium last year.
Congressman Jhonatan de Jesus of the Republicans party said in a report that Hamilton has a “deep and strongly emotional” relationship with Brazil and the tribute was well-deserved.
“His gestures add to his indisputable sporting merit. His public positions in support of relevant issues such as the environment, animal rights, Black people, women and human rights must also be remembered and highlighted,” Jesus said.
The Congress vote was largely symbolic as the debate lasted for about 10 minutes.
Thailand failed to qualify for the quarterfinal of the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup after losing to South Korea 0-1.
The country’s under-23 football team went up against the Koreans on Wednesday at Pakhtakor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Both teams had earned four points after their first two matches, while Vietnam played against Malaysia with two points.
South Korea scored the solitary yet decisive goal in the 35th minute after Go Jae-hyeon ran past the defenders and overcame the Thai goalkeeper in a one-on-one duel.
Both teams tried to score more goals but the match ended with a South Korean triumph.
Meanwhile, Vietnam beat Malaysia 2-0.
South Korea is now the leader in Group C with seven points while Vietnam heads into the next round with five points.
Thailand failed to qualify, earning only four points in three matches.
Thailand’s national football team earned its first three points in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers after trouncing the Maldives 3-0.
Thailand played against the Maldives on Thursday in the third round of the competition at Markaziy Stadium in Namangan, Uzbekistan.
The Thai team scored their first goal in the 40th minute of the first half after Sarach Yooyen headed the ball, which hit the post before shooting into the net.
The second goal, also in the first half, came after Teerasil Dangda tapped in the ball from a cross by his teammate in the 45th+2nd minute.
Pansa Hemviboon scored the final goal for Thailand in the 80th minute of the second half, after a cross went through his teammates and scored with a half-volley.
Thailand went on to receive three points in the first match of the third round.
The national team is now set to lock horns with Sri Lanka on Saturday at Markaziy Stadium.
Notah Begay Junior Golf CEO Ryan Burr believes that Thai youngsters can cause some stir in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf World Championship in the US after they showed impressive performance in the NB3 Thailand event.
Six Thai winners (boys and girls between 8-11, 12-14 and 15-18 divisions) from the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship competed at the Suvarnabhumi Golf and Country Club from June 4-7 were awarded spots into the World Championship scheduled in November.
Throughout the four-day competition, Burr witnessed and was so impressed by the potentials of local juniors that he believed they would have a breakthrough in the US tournament.
“The amount of talent that I’ve seen in these for days, there’s no doubt in my mind that the winners that come from Thailand will have the chance to win in the World Championship. I can’t say how proud and surprised I am to see how good these kids are,” said Burr.
Kittipong Kamlangklee and Natchanok Tunwannaruk will represent Thailand in the boys’ and girls’ 15-18 categories respectively while Prakit Jumpla and Namo Luangnitikul will compete in the 12-14 boys’ and girls’ 12-14 events. Also earning their spots in the World Championship are Takrit Supagonchoowong and Suritpreeya Pruksanubal in the boys’ and girls’ 8-11 divisions.
“I think they are good enough. I think the girl (Natchanok) from the 15-18 girls is already verbally committed to play at the University of Georgia. We’ve known about her in the US for a long time. I would not at all be surprised if she went to the US and won the World Championship,” the NB3 Junior Golf executive viewed.
Notah Begay III Thailand National Championship was derived from what was the World Championship in the US. For the first time, an NB3 event was held outside the United States. “I know that Thailand is passionate about golf. Certainly, some of the best players in the world are Thai. To give these kids a pathway to come to the US to have the chance to get educated at some of the best schools for free is a win-win for everybody,” Burr said.
As one of the biggest junior golf events in the world, the NB3 Finals is broadcast on national television to millions of homes in the US. That provides a chance for college coaches in America to scout talented players and recruit them to study in their institutes.
“The six Thai players who qualified for the World Championship will be discovered by every college coach in America such as Stanford, Howard, Yale, Florida, Texas or UCLA. It’s the opportunity to help change the lives of some of these young Thais and get them a free scholarship to study in the US,” he added.
With the success of the maiden Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship, Burr plans to hold an even bigger tournament in Thailand next year.
“ The plan will be bigger and much better next year. Our plan certainly with the way this has gone and the kind of players we are getting, we certainly welcome the sponsorship and help from cooperate Thai us bring this back and many years to come.
“If you have the chance to play in the Notah Begay II Thailand Junior Golf National Championship, it will have the chance to absolutely change your life. The opportunity to come play on television on a broadcast that is seen by everyone. You may leave Thailand and not a lot of people know who you are. But when you leave the United States, everybody will know who you are,” he concluded.
Harry Kane’s 50th goal for his country earned England a point away to Germany as they claimed a 1-1 draw in Munich.
onas Hofmann’s second-half strike looked like it would condemn England to a second successive UEFA Nations League loss, but Kane made sure that would not be the case, picking himself up to score after being brought down in the box five minutes from time.
Nico Schlotterbeck had caught the back of Kane’s ankle as he chased a ball from Raheem Sterling, and the skipper then fired his spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
Following Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Hungary, England needed something from this game, and they got it after responding well to going behind.
England’s last trip to Munich saw them record one of their most famous-ever victories, Michael Owen scoring a hat-trick in a 5-1 success on the way to qualification for the 2002 World Cup.
But this encounter was a much tighter affair, even if both teams showed plenty of ambition from the off.
Germany had the better of the first half, with Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier both making important interventions in their own box.
After an early Kane effort, England’s best moments came at the end of the half, with Bukayo Saka looking particularly dangerous as half time approached and saw a shot flash wide of the post after cutting in from the right.
Between those, Hofmann had beaten Jordan Pickford after getting onto a long ball, but he was clearly offside as the goal was chalked off.
There was no reprieve after the break though, as the 29 year old shot powerfully past Pickford after being played in by Joshua Kimmich.
Germany had signalled their intent early on, with Walker having to be very alert to get in front of Thomas Müller at the back post from a corner after just two minutes.
Harry Kane’s 50th goal for his country earned England a point away to Germany as they claimed a 1-1 draw in Munich.
In an open game, England were soon threatening at the other end, skipper Kane getting off a snap-shot that had some venom on it but went straight at Manuel Neuer.
England lost Kalvin Phillips to injury shortly afterwards, with the midfielder unable to shake off a collision with Schlotterbeck.
And Pickford did well to deny the dangerous Jamal Musiala before Hofmann beat the England keeper, only to be flagged for offside.
Trippier was the next to make an important stop for England, getting up in time to put off Kai Havertz after he looked well-placed at the back post.
Musiala again forced a save from Pickford but it was the visitors who finished the stronger, Saka first denied by Neuer before curling an effort just wide.
The second half started with a bang for Germany, Hofmann firing home from 15 metres out after being played in by Kimmich. Pickford got a hand to it but could not deny the midfielder.
England almost hit back immediately, Mason Mount firing a powerful effort that was beaten clear by Neuer.
Pickford then kept England in it with two crucial saves, denying Gündogan and Müller to give his side a chance.
Neuer was proving just as tough a nut to crack at the other end, somehow keeping Kane out when he was put in at the back post.
But there was no stopping the England captain from the spot, and despite some threats from both sides in the closing minutes, the points were shared.
Rinsing stars Natchanok Tunwannaruk and Kittipong Kamlangklee successfully booked their spots in the World Championship following their triumphs in the 15-18 division in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship presented by TrustGolf at the Suvarnabhumi Golf and Country Club.
Both won their trophies after no other golfers could produce better scores in Event #2 which concluded on Tuesday. The two talented Thais had already finished their 36-hole mission in Event #1 on Sunday with Nathcanok setting the pace at 10 under-par-134 in the girls while Kittipong was ahead of the pack with 5 under-par-139 in the boys.
“I’m so relieved and overwhelmed to finally win this title. After I completed Event #1, I had no idea what was going to happen in Event #2 as there were a lot of good players that I know,” said the 17-year-old Natchanok who has been in great form recently. She just finished fifth in the fourth Thai LPGA Championship which earned her Best Amateur title at Royal Hills Golf Resort and Spa last month.
“I changed my swing and some other aspects of my game before this tournament. So, I was really determined to test my game and maximized all my effort out there. The hard work really paid off,” she added.
The 17-year-old Bangkokian will however travel to the US in August to study at the IMG Golf Academy where she got a free scholarship. She is touted by Notah Begay Junior Golf CEO Ryan Burr as the force to be reckoned with for the November’s Notah Begay III Junior Golf World Championship in the USA.
“It’s such a huge compliment for him to say that. But I’d rather focus on myself. I will try to do my best out there, not trying to compete with anyone but myself,” added Natchanok.
Champion Boy 15-18 Kittipong Kamlangklee
For 15-year-old Kittipong, he is enthusiastic about the chance to play in the Notah Begay III Junior Golf World Championship which will serve as the biggest event in his life.
“I cannot wait to go there and test my level. This will be a great opportunity for me to be observed by college coaches and pursue an education in the US,” said Kittipong from Thongchai Jaidee Golf Academy.
Champion Girl 15-18 Natachanok Tunwannarux
Also joining Natchanok and Kittipong in the US trip are Prakit Jumpla and Namo Luangnitikul, winners in the 12-14 flight. They also completed their actions in Event #1 with Prakit winning on nine under-par-135 and Namo on nine under-par-135.
In the youngest event, age between 8-11 and competed in just 27 holes, Takrit Supagonchoowong won the boys’ event on four under-par-104 (played in Event#1) while Suritpreeya Pruksanubal won the girls’ s trophy after she finished with seven under-par-101 in Event #2.
Champion Girl 12-14 Namo LuangnitikulChampion Boy 8-11 Takrit SupagonchoowongChampion Girl 8-11 Suritpreeya Pruksanubal
Harry Kane’s 50th goal for his country earned England a point away to Germany as they claimed a 1-1 draw in Munich.
Champion Boy 15-18 Kittipong Kamlangklee
Champion Girl 15-18 Natachanok Tunwannarux
Champion Girl 12-14 Namo Luangnitikul
Champion Boy 8-11 Takrit Supagonchoowong
Champion Girl 8-11 Suritpreeya Pruksanubal
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