Somkiat Chantra made history for Thailand on Sunday when he became the first Thai rider to win a world championship race at the Moto2 Indonesian Grand Prix.
The Idemitsu Honda Team Asia rider had never finished higher than fifth before at the world level, but showed nerves of steel to dominate his rivals in tricky conditions at the Indonesian circuit. With rain dampening the track, the race was reduced to 16 laps to prevent accidents.
Starting fourth on the grid, Somkiat shrugged off the treacherous conditions and catapulted into an early lead.
The fearless Thai then began putting distance between himself and his rivals, gradually opening a gap to the rest of the field. Thai motorcycle racing fans’ hearts were in their mouths when their hero suffered a late wobble, but Somkiat shrugged it off to cross the line first and rewrite the history books.
The rider from Thailand beat World Championship leader Celestino Vietti (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) of Italy by 3.2 seconds.
Somkiart led from the first corner to the chequered flag in what was described as an “absolutely fantastic performance” by MotoGP.com.
A 16-year-old schoolboy stunned the Thai athletics scene by shattering the national men’s 100 metres record on Sunday.
Puripol Boonson lowered the mark with a blistering run at the 47th Thailand National Games.
The athlete from Samut Prakan won the gold medal with a time of 10.19 seconds, breaking the previous record of 10.23s set by Rienchai Seehawong 24 years ago at the 13th Asian Games in 1998.
Puripol also broke the National Games record of 10.31s set by Jirapong Meenapra, from Surat Thani, in 2014.
Second behind Puripol was Sora-at Dabbang from Sing Buri, who won the silver medal with a run of 10.48s while bronze went to Siriphon Phanphae from Surat Thani with 10.55s.
Tickets for the much-awaited friendly between Manchester United and Liverpool in Bangkok will go on sale on April 2 at 10am.
Match organiser Fresh Air Festival said on Thursday tickets for “The Match Bangkok Century Cup 2022” will go on sale at Thai Ticket Major counters nationwide via http://www.thaiticketmajor.com, or contact (+66) 2262 3838. Each person is allowed to buy up to 4 tickets.
Fresh Air Festival earlier announced that the tickets would be priced at 5,000 baht, 7,000 baht, 15,000 baht, 20,000 baht, 22,000 baht and 25,000 baht for the high-profile exhibition game, to be held at Rajamangala National Stadium on July 12 at 8pm.
The organiser said it would renovate the entire stadium, from the stands and the tunnel to the dressing rooms, akin to stadiums in the UK.
ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion Superbon Singha Mawynn will defend his title for the first time against number one-ranked Marat Grigorian in a rematch that has been four years in the making.
The two will go head-to-head at ONE X at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, 26 March.
Last year, Superbon won the belt from Giorgio “The Doctor” Petrosyan with a KO finish that immediately went viral and earned him the 2021 One Super Series Knockout of the
He must, however, avenge his first-round loss to Grigorian from 2018. Since that first meeting many years ago, Superbon has accomplished an 11-fight winning streak, while Grigorian has won 13 of his last 14 fights.
“I have made a lot of improvements within these last four years, including improving my punches and defense,” Superbon said.
“There are a lot of great athletes in my division, but because I lost to him in our last fight, I’ll need to prove myself by beating him in this upcoming fight. My game plan to beat him is either by KO or decision.”
Initially, Superbon hoped that Grigorian would win the current ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix so that they could meet again and even the score. And after the Armenian-Belgian competitor was forced to withdraw from the tournament in the semifinals, it seemed as though the two wouldn’t meet for some time.
But because he was eager for a rematch, the Thai World Champion decided to give Grigorian a chance anyway.
“The meaning of rematches is to be able to fix the mistakes from the past,” Superbon said.
The athlete is proud of becoming the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion, but this is a bout that still weighs on him.
“It was such an honor to win ‘Knockout of the Year.’ There are a lot of great athletes in ONE Championship, but I was very happy to receive the award after working very hard throughout the year,” he said.
“To become champion was my goal since the first day I signed with ONE. There are a lot of great fighters in the organization, but I am proud of myself that I achieved my goal.”
All-in-all, he promises an explosive bout when he meets his rival at ONE X.
“Me versus Marat is a dream fight that people around the world are eager for. It’s going to be exciting and fun,” he said.
ONE X will stream live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 26 March on the ONE Super App.
Manchester United bowed out of the UEFA Champions League after being stunned 1-0 by Atletico Madrid in the home game at Old Trafford on Tuesday, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate victory for the Spanish club in the two-leg encounter.
Athletico Madrid managed to hang on to a 1-0 lead, which came in the 41st minute from a header by Brazilian Renan Lodi.
Coach Diego Simeone lauded Lodi for taking his team into the quarter-finals.
“Lodi’s doing really well. He had to wait a long time [to get in the side], but football is marvellous because when you train hard and are ready to go, there’s always a chance for you.”
Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick criticised referees for allowing the visitors to get away with time-wasting tactics in the second half, saying, “there was always someone lying on the floor”.
He called it a “joke” that were four minutes of stoppage time.
With their elimination from the European competition, Manchester United now only have the English Premier League, where they lie fifth, in their search for silverware.
The Thailand Pavilion at World Expo Dubai 2020 in the United Arab Emirates has arranged a booth to give visitors insights into the traditional martial art of Muay Thai.
Organised by the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the booth is holding demonstrations on Muay Thai, projecting it as an art and a science. The science of the fighting system involves employing body strength to subdue opponents, using the “art of nine limbs”, which goes into the details of the Thai martial art.
At the Muay Thai booth, visitors could answer a questionnaire about Thailand to receive a prize, such as a Muay Thai cloth bag or stickers. They could also participate in a lucky draw for a chance to get Muay Thai shorts.
The booth also holds a special show “Muay Thai, The Cultural Heritage of Thailand” twice a day.
In the first part, the show displays the art of Muay Thai and the wai kru ritual. The second part is a choreographed story of the evolution of Muay Thai, embellished with graphics.
Currently, Muay Thai is popular and recognised as one of the professional sports. Muay Thai academies are one of the educational institutions or gyms that foreigners are interested in.
World Expo Dubai 2020 opened on October 1, 2021, and runs until March 31, 2022, with 192 countries taking part.
The Thailand Pavilion, built under the concept “Mobility for the Future”, has an area of 3,606 square metres, or 2.25 rai, the largest space that Thailand has ever got at any World Expo. There are four exhibition rooms in the pavilion: Thai Mobility; mobility of life; mobility of the future; heart of mobility.
Sitthichai “Killer Kid” Sitsongpeenong warned he faced a tough opponent in Chingiz Allazov, but said he was well-prepared to snatch the featherweight kickboxing World Grand Prix Championship in ONE X.
Sitthichai will take on Belarusian Chingiz Allazov on March 26 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The ONE X programme has scheduled 19 interesting fights, including six fighters from Thailand – Stamp Fairtex, Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Superbon Singha Mawynn, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, Capitan Petchyindee Academy, and above all Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.
In January, Sitthichai won against Georgian Davit Kiria in the “ONE Championship: Only the Brave”, while Allazov won against Jo Nattawut from Thailand with a first-round knockout.
Sitthichai’s last meeting with Allazov was in 2014, in the Thai Boxe Mania, when the Thai won by a unanimous decision.
Sitthichai said that he had fought Allazov eight years ago in kickboxing. The fight was close as Allazov was strong at that time. After a tough contest, Sitthichai managed to pull off a win. He said he had always been studying Allazov’s form and found that his punch had gotten better, so Sitthichai had adapted his training routine to be ready for the Belarusian.
He admitted that Allazov has an advantage as he is taller, which gives him a longer reach, besides being stronger and quicker. He warned that it won’t be an easy fight for him as Allazov enjoyed a physical edge.
However, Sitthichai said he had 10 years of kickboxing experience, which would make his attacks swift and more accurate.
He said his plan is to get close to his rival and attack with kicks, punches, and knee thrusts. He said his goal is to achieve a knockout victory. He, however, said he would not underestimate his opponent because Allazov has a great eye and he is also fast.
He revealed that he was 80 per cent ready as of now and would be fully fit for the bout. On the home stretch, he said his training would become more intense. He has strengthened his muscles with weight training and is also focused on adding speed and power to his attacking skills.
He promised to do all in his power to win the title, and asked Thai and international fans to cheer and encourage him and Thai fighters in this competition.
Bangkok FC player Aitsaret Noichaiboon has been sacked by his club for attacking an opposition player in one of the worst acts of violence ever seen in Thai professional football.
Aitsaret squared up to North Bangkok University’s Supasan Ruangsuphanimit during their Thai League 3 game before smashing him in the face with a Muay Thai-style elbow strike.
Photo Credit: AIS Play
The referee immediately showed Aitsaret a red card.
The shocking attack left Supasan bloodied and in need of 24 stitches to close a deep facial wound.
It happened in the last minute of the match, with Bangkok FC losing 3-0.
Aitsaret was tackled and then tripped by Supasan as he went to fetch the ball. An outraged Aitsaret then ran over to his opponent and swung a left elbow into his face, knocking him to the ground.
Bangkok FC sacked him after the match ended, announcing that Aitsaret’s contract was terminated with immediate effect.
“Bangkok FC does not support any kind of unsportsmanlike conduct including using violence on the pitch,” said the statement.
“The club regrets this incident and will do everything to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.”
Aitsaret later posted a Facebook message saying he regretted his action, calling it too extreme. He apologised to Supasan as well as to the fans, executives, coaches and players of both teams.
North Bangkok University FC said it file a police complaint over the assault. Supasan was taken to Bangpakok-Rangsit 2 Hospital where his face was stitched up.
World No 1 mixed doubles duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai clinched their sixth title in a row after winning the German Open on Sunday.
The Thai top seeds underlined their global dominance by crushing China’s Ou Xuanyi and Huang Yaqiong 21-11, 21-9 in the final of the Super 300 tournament in Muelheim.
The reward for winning their 13th title overall was prize money of US$14,220 or about Bt475,500.
Badminton Association of Thailand president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul congratulated them on bagging their first title of the year without losing a game through the whole tournament.
She added that the win was a boost as the Thai pair eye badminton’s most prestigious title.
“This tournament will help build their confidence ahead of next week’s All England Open, the oldest badminton competition in the world,” Patama said.
The $1-million Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships will be held at Arena Birmingham from Wednesday (March 16) to Sunday.
PATTAYA (March 13, 2022) – In a final round of high drama Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen won her first LPGA Tour title when she secured the Honda LPGA Thailand title today (Sunday) with a second sudden-death playoff hole over China’s Xiyu Lin. They both finished regulation on a new record breaking 26-under-par 262 at the Siam Country Club Old Course, Pattaya, Chonburi, before returning to the 18th hole for the extra holes. With the honours shared on the first playoff hole, Madsen eagled the second to lift the trophy and take home the winner’s cheque of US$240,000.
For her efforts, Xiyu went home with the runner’s-up prize of US$150,488 and lots of experience gained in a tough fight down the home. It surely was an incident-packed fourth round and even if Madsen did deserve to win it in the end, there was no shortage excitement on the last day of the tournament, where most of the world’s leading women’s players and sponsors’ exemptions also attempted to win the all-new Honda HR-V e:HEV hole-in-one prize on No 16. Sadly, there were no takers.
Overnight leader Madsen shot a fourth and final day 66, her third six-under round of the event, following an opening day 64. But she came close to giving it all away over the last couple of holes in regulation, when she went from a four-shot lead with three holes to play, to all even with Xiyu after 72. Bogeys by Madsen at the 16 and 18th holes, and birdies for Xiyu at the 17th and 18th, kept everyone guessing who would win it. Madsen’s fans must have felt she lost when she hit her approach into a hospitality tent on the last hole, only to survive for the playoff.
In third place was France’s Celine Boutier, carded a 67 of her own and finished on 25-under 263, taking home US$109,168. Meanwhile South Korean Amy Yang and one of the pre-tournament favourites, Canadian Brooke Henderson were tied for fourth on 23-under 265. Hyo Joo Kim and Jennifer Kupcho were joint sixth on 22-under 266, and Thailand’s best-placed player Atthaya Thitikul, Danielle Kang, who struck a hole-in-one today, and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno were tied for eighth on 20-under 268. Yuka Saso, representing Japan, shot the low round of the tournament when she matched the course 62. She was bogey-free with an eagle and eight birdies in her round.
Madsen, the first player from Denmark to win on the LPGA Tour, said after her victory: “It was fun. I really tried to enjoy the moment. Standing now with the trophy it’s even more fun. A little blunder on 18, in ordinary play (regulation) was not very fun. But now it’s great. My game is really trending in the right direction. I mean, you can say that I have more confidence with my game and myself. I believe that I can win out here, so that’s just what I’ve been chasing for the last year. (On the new tournament scoring record of 26-under) the course played a little easier because of the soft greens, but you can make a lot of birdies and that’s hard, knowing you have to go out at least 5-, 6-under.”
Xiyu Lin, on how she was feeling: “I have kind of calmed down right now, but obviously when I just lost the playoff I felt a little bit sad, but I thought about how it was in the tournament rounds when I have three holes to go I was four shot behind. So, I mean, at that moment I never thought I would even have had a chance. Then I somehow gave myself a chance. Then I feel like those two holes I played great but Nanna did even better, so congrats to her. Maybe next time. I wasn’t hitting that well after the rain delay, so I hit a really good shot and then made birdie.”
“Then I realised I’m only two behind going into the last hole. I was still not thinking of anything because I just thought I’m going to give myself another birdie chance and I hit such a good second shot and left myself an eagle chance and ended up getting into the playoff. (On the first playoff hole chip that went close) “I just cannot believe that chip didn’t go in. But, I mean, I’m pretty proud of myself. I haven’t been into many playoffs and neither match play as well, so I was only nervous for a little bit and then I quickly calmed. And then I think both holes I was making birdies, so I did know what I can do,” she added.
Celine Boutier, who eagled the 18th hole said: “I hit a really good second shot, like an approach shot I guess and I wasn’t sure where it was. I just thought it was going to be like long on the green and then I saw it was like a chip. But it’s all uphill and into the grain, so I just was focusing on hitting it close and just making a birdie. And then when I made contact I knew it was like a good shot and I knew I had a chance, but having it go in is definitely a bonus. (About the game overall) I’m going to try to focus on the positives. I feel like it’s very easy to get down. I was a little bit frustrated with my week last week in Singapore and then being able to finish third this week is – obviously I know I can improve on some stuff, but with the way I was driving it, I feel like third is a pretty good finish.”
Three-time winner Amy Yang said she was pleased with her performances and added: “I think I played great, like not just this week, last week as well – the whole Asian swing. I’ve been working on my swing and short game and everything. I can see it’s going in the right direction. You know, I see the progression, so I’m happy with my game right now. You know (also), I just like this golf course. I have been here many times now. I know how to play the course. You know, of course I worked hard as well, but I just love the place. I think that makes me enjoy the game more each day and just that brings a better result every day.”
Brooke Henderson said: “It was a good finish. I felt like I’ve been playing really well, which is a really good feeling, especially after last year wasn’t my best year. So to come out this year so strong I’m definitely happy and proud of that. I feel like I’m inching my way closer every week to getting a little bit more comfortable and just enjoying those final groups as much as I have been. It’s just so fun, so exciting to be in them. I just look forward to when I have my opportunity to win. You know, I think just shooting low numbers, like this week everybody was going low and just to keep up you needed to make like six, eight birdies every day. I love making birdies and I love chasing and that attack mentality. It was kind of fun to be back in that again.”
Delighted with her record-equalling round, Yuka Saso said: I really played well today. You know, the momentum was there and I was able to ride that momentum. So, yeah, I’m really happy that I played well. The eagle on No. 15, I hit the driver and hit it right in the rough. And then yeah, I was in the rough and chipped in for an eagle. Like 30 yards or something. The 62, that is my lowest score I’ve ever done in my whole life. It’s great to do it on the LPGA Tour.
After her hole-in-one on number eight (was not broadcast on TV), Danielle Kang said: “I thought it was the car hole actually (but it was not). Some fans got it (on phone video clips). They sent it to me on my phone. It’s actually a streak now that Golf Channel has missed – or like whoever is airing – has missed my hole-in-one, so no one has actually seen it live, and this is my 14th hole-in-one. I also couldn’t make a lot of putts out here. I hit the ball phenomenally the last four days. Unfortunately it wasn’t my short game that wasn’t my forte the past two weeks, and it’s okay. Positive things, I’m hitting it really well and really consistently, so I’m really happy about that. We also had a huge crowd. Hometown kind of favourite, Atthaya (of Thailand) was playing with us. It was really cool.”
Ms. Winnie Heng, Vice President and Managing Director for Thailand at IMG, said: “Congratulations to Nanna Koerstz Madsen on her very first LPGA win. We’re honoured to have it be the Honda LPGA Thailand. Nanna played very well and gave an exciting finish alongside Xiyu Lin to an entertaining tournament. A big thank you also goes to all the players in the field for treating us to an amazing week of top quality golf. The support and camaraderie amongst the players on this Tour is phenomenal and we are also proud to have several Thai players in the top-half this week. This result is a testament to Honda and all the sponsors’ on their commitment in helping develop women’s golf in Thailand, which also benefits the region and the LPGA Tour as a whole.”
“Special thanks also go to our title sponsor Honda, all our tournament partners for their continued support and trust in us, and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Sports Authority of Thailand for their constant guidance in ensuring a safe and secure Honda LPGA Thailand was delivered, and making it the longest running LPGA tournament in South-East Asia,” Ms. Heng added.
The tournament was broadcast live and streamed on the Official Broadcast Host PPTV HD 36 and their digital platforms: http://www.pptvhd36.com, Facebook, YouTube and the PPTVHD36 application over the four days of competition.
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