The inaugural tournament created global headlines last year when the Thai prodigy became the youngest ever winner on the tour at the age of 14 years, four months and 19 days, in July 2017.

Atthaya, who has since won two more titles – the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Golf Championship in Singapore and the Queen Sirikit Cup in Bangkok last month, says she -is already committed to attending an Asian Games national selection event in Indonesia at the same time.

“It’s a shame that I have to skip the tournament where I gained recognition and reputation for Thailand. I hope I can compete in the tournament next time,” Atthaya told The Nation.

However Thailand still has other strong contenders, including teenage stars Saranporn Langkulgasettrin and Arpichaya Yubol.

Atthaya Thitikul with the 2017 trophy.

18 year-old Saranporn has not missed a single cut since she turned professional in 2014. The Phuket-born player has won 15 professional titles, including two China LPGA events in Jiangsu China and Hong Hong this year.

Red-hot Arpichaya, 16, has won back-to-back Thai LPGA events, in Hua Hin and in Rayong last Friday, which earned her a wildcard into the LET tournament.

The Pattaya field of 126 competitors will again include 70 LET Members, 40 Thai LPGA Members and 16 invitation spots, playing for a 300,000-euros purse (Bt12 million) and Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking Points.

LIVE TV Broadcasting will be on True Sport HD 3 on True Visions from 1-4pm on Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24.

Fans can buy Bt100 admission tickets every day of the event at a booth near the public entrance to the golf club.

There will be free admission for spectators aged under 18 and over 60. Gates will open at 8am daily.

The LET Thailand is one of the three big international events due in the Kingdom this month.

Apart from the recently-concluded Thailand Open in Chachoengsao, the Queen’s Cup, the second Asian Tour in Thailand, will take place at the Phoenix right after the LET event.

After missing the cut in five of the first six tournaments this year, Schechter put it all together at Blackthorn Golf Club with an 11-under par overall showing. The win is her first on the Symetra Tour.

“It has been a lot of hard work and it definitely hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Schechter, who signed a bogey-free card this afternoon. “It was really just sticking to the gameplan that I had created at the beginning of the week. I feel like the game has been getting really good and felt really solid early in the week. Just been hitting good shots and making some good putts.”

The University of North Carolina alumna continues the trend of 2018 Symetra Tour champions all hailing from outside the final pairing. Climbing back into the hunt before eventually taking the cake was never in doubt for Schechter, who said her pre-tournament preparation got her ready for a result like this.

“I checked my fundamentals at the beginning of this week,” Schechter said. “My grip was getting a little weak and my stance was getting a little closed, so working on those two things I think was really helpful. It gave me a process and focused goal of getting a good setup on every shot.”

Meanwhile, off the course, Schechter and Leslie Cloots (Antwerp, Belgium) have teamed up to form “Birdiecast,” a new podcast about life on Tour. She pointed to the show as a factor in helping keep her mind at ease throughout the week.

“It has definitely been really helpful, that in-between shot time is something to focus on that’s outside of golf, but still relates to the golf world,” said Schechter. “We’ve been having a lot of fun doing that and is something to do during the week when they get a little long and you’re trying to kill some time.”

The win and $22,500 winner’s check launches Schechter to No. 7 in the Volvik Race for the Card, with $23,355 earned in seven starts. She entered the Four Winds Invitational at No. 132.

As for the 36-hole leaders, Louise Stahle (Lund, Sweden) went even par today and finished tied for second at 10-under, while Samantha Wagner (Windermere, Florida) shot 1-over par to end tied for fourth at 9-under.

WAGNER LEARNS FROM FINAL ROUND PERFORMANCE

Today’s final round at the 7th annual Four Winds Invitational was nothing to hang her head about and don’t think Samantha Wagner will after concluding her seventh career Symetra Tour tournament tied for fourth.

“I stayed really patient all day,” said Wagner. “When the weather got kind of rough, I stayed really patient.”

Perhaps the greatest aspect Wagner can take away from today is that she didn’t deviate from her aggressive style of play, which got her into the final pairing to begin with. Even though she went 1-over par for the final round, she still notices a light at the end of the tunnel.

“On No. 9 I took a chance, like I said I’ve been an aggressive player and I went for the green,” said Wagner, who recorded three bogeys on the afternoon. “It didn’t pay off, but I kept giving myself birdie chances and just wasn’t making anything. I know it’s coming, I’m playing really well right now.”

When they say you have to learn to win, it really is true and Wagner will be the first to tell you. The last time she came out victorious was in June of 2017 at the U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying Round she competed in. Before that, it was the 2016 Pat Bradley Invitational during Wagner’s sophomore year at the University of Florida.

“It’s just a process, keep giving yourself those opportunities,” Wagner said. “The past couple months I’ve been playing some really good golf and things have been moving in the right direction. I was really happy with how this week played out. It’s disappointing not to win, but putting myself in contention is a great feeling.”

With the result this week capturing $6,581, Wagner jumps from No. 39 to No. 23 in the Volvik Race for the Card with $12,821 earned through seven events played.

RACE FOR POTAWATOMI CUP IS OFF AND RUNNING

The Four Winds Invitational marks the first of four events that comprise the Potawatomi Cup and Maia Schechter sure got the race off to a roaring start.

She takes over the No. 1 position in the points standings, earning 500 points for the win.

“Definitely is a good start to the series and they support women’s golf so much,” said Schechter. “To start the race in first place is a really big deal and just need to keep it going.”

Meanwhile, Louise Stahle and Eun Jeong Seong (Yongin, Republic of Korea) are tied for second, not far behind with 245 points.

Furthermore, with how things played out today, three players sit tied for fourth at 115 points in Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland), Nontaya Srisawang(Chiang Mai, Thailand) and Samantha Wagner.

The next tournament in the Potawatomi Cup series is the Island Resort Championship in Harris, Mich., from June 22-24 at Sweetgrass Golf Club.

Attended by thousands of running enthusiasts from Thailand and overseas, the opening ceremony was presided over by Poonsak Soponprathumarak, Senior Deputy District Chief of Koh Samui.

The Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon was the third event out of seven planned programs for the Bangkok Airways Boutique Series 2018. The main purpose of this event is to promote Samui tourism and to ensure that participants recognize the importance of healthy lifestyle.

Moreover, Bangkok Airways has joined held with Teelakaw Company Limited in organizing this unique running event as Teelakaw is the real expert in this field.

All participants are guaranteed to be impressed with breath-taking scenery of Samui Island as well as the beauty of local charms along the running route.

As Bangkok Airways is a boutique airline, the running tracks will reflect a cozy inviting experience for participants. Bangkok Airways Samui Half Marathon offers  runners a choice of 3 different categories which are; Fun Run of 5 kilometers, Mini Marathon of 10 kilometers, and Half-Marathon of 21 kilometers.

Moreover, Bangkok Airways take the running series campaign further by giving back to the society. “Shoes for Kids” campaign gives the opportunity for runners to take part to donate a pair of shoes to kids living in the provinces where the running races take place.

For this race, the airline, Teelakaw and participated runners managed to donate 50 pairs of running shoes to the students of Wat Jang School and Ban Angthong School. Donation can be further made via www.teelakow.com

for those runners who would like to contribute.

Bangkok Airways Samui Half-Marathon is the third event out of seven planned programs of the Bangkok Airways Boutique Series 2018.

The remaining programs are the “Lampang Half Marathon” in Lampang will be held on 24 June 2018, “Phuket Half Marathon” in Phuket will be on 5 August 2018, and the “Chiang Rai Marathon” in Chiang Rai will be on 16 September 2018, with the “Lanna Marathon” in Chiang Mai following on 11 November 2018”.

The 24-year-old Austrian was playing in his first Grand Slam final, and although he pushed Nadal at times, he fell to an ultimately one-sided 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 defeat.

“Physically I enjoyed more watching him on the couch,” smiled Thiem, who was 11 years old when Nadal won his first French Open in 2005.

“When he won here the first four or five times, I was always watching it. Of course it’s really a great thing that I made my way and that I was competing in a final against him.

“It’s a really great thing, honestly, but still I’m disappointed, of course. It was a final. I really wanted to win.

“I gave everything I had, and I’m the loser of today. So at the end, it’s not the best day.”

Thiem is the only player to have beaten Nadal on clay in the last two years after wins in Madrid this year and Rome in 2017.

The world number eight is also one of just three men to have defeated the 17-time Grand Slam champion three times on his favoured surface in total, but he had no answer to the 32-year-old’s relentless pressure on Sunday.

“He was playing very well, I think, and there is a reason why he won 11 times here,” Thiem added.

“It’s definitely one of the best things somebody ever achieved in sport. For sure, me, I’m confident that this was not my last Grand Slam final, and that’s my biggest goal, to get into the next one and then to do it better than today.

“But if you win a Grand Slam tournament 11 times, one single one, then this is just very exceptional and amazing.

“You need to have, I think, many extraordinary skills and talents and work ethic to achieve that.”

After winning just one point in the first two games, Thiem dragged himself back into the contest, only to throw away the opening set with an erratic 10th game as he was broken to love.

Nadal has never lost a best-of-five-set match on clay when he has won the first set, and every time Thiem has faced the world number one the winner of the first set has gone on to take the match.

But the seventh seed insisted that his hopes weren’t automatically ended before set two.

“It was a bad game, but I did the right plays always, and I just missed some close balls.

“And in general… game-wise it was a good game. It was just terrible misses. And it was, for sure, not the turning point.”

The Spaniard secured an 11th title at Roland Garros on Sunday and 17th major of his career.

He now has 86 match wins on Paris’ famous crushed red brick against just two defeats in 13 years.

Juan Martin del Potro, who was run ragged by the world number one on Court Philippe Chatrier in this year’s semi-finals, was right to state that it’s almost impossible to beat Nadal on clay.

However, you will never hear Nadal echo similar brash confidence despite his straight-sets win over Dominic Thiem in the final.

Just as happy fishing or playing golf in Mallorca, Nadal is ruthless on the tennis court but disarmingly humble off it.

“I have doubts every day but that’s good as it makes me work hard with more intensity,” said Nadal last year when he captured his 10th French Open, a year after his latest battle with a wrist injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament after two rounds.

That shock exit prompted speculation that Nadal was finished as a heavyweight of the sport.

“You have to be humble and accept that you have to work to improve things,” added Nadal.

“Life is never clear. If you have no doubts, then you are very arrogant. I am not an arrogant person.”

It is that forthright modesty which endears Nadal to his legion of fans as is his respect for opponents, never forgetting to applaud every vanquished foe off court.

– Injury misery –

His idiosyncracies are just as charming to his supporters.

His picking at the rear of his shorts and mopping of his brow, aligned with his obsessive devotion to lining up his water bottles, are parts of the Nadal DNA.

Victory on Sunday moved Nadal to just three Slams behind his great rival Roger Federer who, at 36, is more than four years older.

It also reignited the debate over who is actually the greatest player of all time even though the two men have shared the last six majors between them.

Nadal’s Grand Slam CV boasts 11 French Opens, three US Open titles, two at Wimbledon and one at the Australian Open.

He has now also joined Federer and Novak Djokovic in passing the $100 million prize money barrier.

Tennis has been good for Nadal but he has been just as influential as a key driver of the sport’s growth.

He won an under-12 regional crown at age eight and by 12 had captured Spanish and European age-group junior titles.

By 15, he had turned professional and, two years later, won his first match against Federer.

At 19, he won the 2005 French Open on his debut.

It was early in his career when Nadal began his habit of biting the championship trophies he wins.

Nadal added Wimbledon crowns in 2008 and 2010, an Australian Open title in 2009 and completed the career Grand Slam in 2010 by defeating Djokovic in the US Open final, becoming the youngest in the Open era (since 1967) to complete the four-event career sweep.

And only Nadal and Andre Agassi can say they have a career Grand Slam and an Olympic men’s singles gold medal, Nadal having claimed his in 2008 at Beijing.

Nadal added another US Open crown at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York in 2013 and a third last year.

Knee injuries have taken a toll throughout his career, costing him nine Slam appearances, and after he failed to even reach a Slam semi-final in 2015 and 2016 some figured his greatest moments were behind him.

But Nadal roared into the 2017 Australian Open final, losing to Federer, then captured his record 10th French Open crown in June last year, setting the stage for another title run in the Flushing Meadows fortnight at the US Open in September.

Only Nadal, Pete Sampras and Ken Rosewall have managed the feat of winning Grand Slam titles in their teens, 20s and 30s.

Factfile on Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard’s 11th French Open title on Sunday:

Name: Rafael Nadal

Date of birth: June 3 1986 (32 years old)

Nationality: Spanish

Hometown: Manacor, Mallorca, Spain

Height: 1.85m (6ft 1in)

Weight: 85kg

Left-handed, two-handed backhand

World number one

Turned professional: 2001

Coach: Carlos Moya (ESP)

Career prize money: $100,594,000

Career achievements: 79 titles, including four in 2018 (Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and French Open)

Grand Slam titles: 17 (French Open 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018, Australian Open 2009, Wimbledon 2008 and 2010, US Open 2010, 2013 and 2017)

Tour Finals: Runner-up (2010 and 2013)

Olympic Games gold medals: Singles (2008), doubles (2016)

Davis Cup titles: Four (2004, 2008, 2009 and 2011)

French Open 2018 campaign (x denotes seeding):

1st rd: bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9)

2nd rd: bt Guido Pella (ARG) 6-2, 6-1, 6-1

3rd rd: bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x27) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

4th rd: bt Maximilian Marterer (GER) 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4)

Quarter-finals: bt Diego Schwartzman (ARG x11) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

Semi-finals: bt Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x5) 6-4, 6-1, 6-2

Final: bt Dominic Thiem (AUT x7) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

Chachoengsao – Panuphol Pittayarat benefited from the familiarity of playing on his home course as he shot an even-par 70 to edge fellow Thai Poom Saksansin for the US$300,000 Thailand Open at the Thai Country Club on Sunday.

Playing on the course he knows so well, the 25-year-old was cool and calm all day before signing off on 13 under-par-267 for a one-stroke victory, his second Asian Tour title after the Indonesia Open last October.

“There were good and bad moments today but I controlled myself well at the end,” said Panuphol, who rushed to hug his father Chinnawat and openly wept immediately after making the bogey putt to clinch the title – he had headed up the last with a two-stroke lead.

“I’m so happy to win on a home course. It was fun. The key was to remain patient – I waited for the momentum to swing my way,” added Panuphol, who pocketed the winner’s cheque for US$54,000.

Panuphol, nickname Coconut (Mapraow in Thai) by family and friends, also became the fifth Thai to hold the prestigious trophy granted by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol after Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Runagkit (1992 and 2003), Prayad Marksaeng (2013) and Rattanon Wannasrichan last year.

“This win meant much more to me as it’s a home event and the trophy was granted by King Rama 9 added the Bangkokian, who will aim to keep up his momentum at another royal trophy, the Queen’s Cup later this month at the Phoenix Gold and Country Club in Chon Buri.

“It’s an honour for every Thai player to hold this trophy. It will be extra honour if I could win another royal trophy. I will try my best to achieve that.”

Poom, also 25, did all he could to catch up with Panuphol but everyone in the leading group, including rookie Sarit Suwannarut, struggled on the green and all had to settle for even-par rounds.

The two-time Tour winner had to be content with a a four-round total of 12 under-par 268 and the runner-up’s prize of US$33,000.

“To be honest I was a bit disappointed I didn’t win. But I’m proud of myself as I didn’t play well at all coming into this week,” said Poom, who has been dubbed “Baby Assassin” due to his young looks. He had missed five cuts out of 11 events this year before the Thailand Open.

“My confidence has been low this year, and normally I’m not a confident guy. So solid results this week will help me in terms of my confidence. Also finishing second was good enough for me as I have now secured my Tour card for next year. I will be more relaxed and compete without pressure now,” added the former SEA Games gold medallist.

The 20-year-old Sarit, the second-round leader, had two bogeys on the front nine before regaining two shots heading home to also card a 70 and finish on 11 under-par-269 and lone third place, his best result on the Asian Tour.

“A pretty awesome week for me but quite tough on the final day,” said Sarit after just his second Tour event, following the Bangladesh Open in May. “I felt a lot of pressure but I think I handled it pretty well and it’s going to be easier next time.

“To be honest I came here hoping to just make the cut. So finishing third is not so bad at all. I’m proud of myself.”

Scores after round 4 of the Thailand Open being played at the par 70, 7060 Yards Thai CC course (am – denotes amateur):

267 – Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 67-64-66-70.

268 – Poom SAKSANSIN (THA) 66-66-66-70.

269 – Sarit SUWANNARUT (THA) 65-65-69-70.

270 – Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 64-69-70-67.

271 – Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 68-68-64-71.

272 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 65-69-70-68, David GLEESON (AUS) 67-69-68-68, Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 69-67-67-69, Thanyakon KHRONGPHA (THA) 66-69-67-70, Scott HEND (AUS) 69-66-66-71.

273 – Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) 67-69-68-69, Kurt KITAYAMA (USA) 67-67-66-73.

274 – Pawin INGKHAPRADIT (THA) 70-67-71-66, Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 65-70-70-69, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 69-66-69-70, Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS) 67-69-68-70.

275 – Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 69-67-69-70.

276 – Charng-Tai SUDSOM (THA) 68-69-70-69, Rahil GANGJEE (IND) 71-69-66-70, Jack HARRISON (ENG) 69-69-68-70, Rory HIE (INA) 67-72-65-72, Doyeob MUN (KOR) 70-69-65-72, Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) 67-71-66-72.

277 – Tirawat KAEWSIRIBANDIT (THA) 67-71-70-69, Ben CAMPBELL (NZL) 68-70-69-70, Jarin TODD (USA) 68-71-66-72.

The world number one had lost all three of her previous finals on the biggest stage, but showed incredible resolve to beat Sloane Stephens to complete her journey from 2008 Roland Garros junior champion to lifting the main trophy 10 years later.

The 26-year-old had said before the final that she “would be okay” if she lost again, as “no-one has died”.

That humble attitude has endeared Halep to the French crowds, and the spectators on Court Philippe Chatrier were firmly behind her on Saturday.

“The positive vibes from all the crowd was amazing, and I took it just for me,” she said. “I felt that everyone is for me, and I felt stronger on court.”

She is only the second Romanian woman to win a major and the first since Virginia Ruzici claimed the 1978 French Open, and her army of fans could still be heard chanting ‘Simona, Simona, Simona’ around Roland Garros two hours after the match.

Already a winner of 16 WTA titles before arriving in Paris, Halep had undoubtedly been one of the world’s best players for the last few years, and several of her fellow pros were quick to congratulate her latest achievement.

“For all the haters who said she’ll never win a Slam because she’s mentally weak, go choke on that,” tweeted Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.

The 26-year-old had suffered three agonising defeats when one set from glory at the majors, with last year’s loss in Paris after leading Jelena Ostapenko by a set and 3-0 perhaps the most painful.

Her third came earlier this year to another perennial underachiever on the biggest stage, Caroline Wozniacki, in a marathon match in sweltering conditions at Melbourne Park.

But she used those memories to her advantage on Saturday: “I said that last year (it) happened to me, same thing, I was set and a break up and I lost the match. So I said there is a chance to come back and win it.”

Halep first became world number one in August last year and has now spent 31 weeks in total at the top of the rankings.

Her triumph over Stephens made her the first player to win her first Grand Slam title while the world number one.

“The fact that I could be No. 1 in the world last year gave me confidence,” said Halep.

Already a massive star in her home country — Halep appeared on the front cover of Romania’s ‘Elle’ magazine in April and opened a restaurant called ‘SH’ in her hometown of Constanta — she will now go down in its sporting folklore.

“The fact that I was able to win maybe will give an inspiration also to Romanians, the kids, that it’s possible, even if you come from a little country, it’s possible if you work and if you believe.”

One of the main reasons why Halep had to wait so long to lift a major title is her relative lack of power when compared to the game’s other big stars.

But after seeing off one of the biggest hitters on tour in Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals, she pointed out: “I’m fast, though, no?”

Her speed and fitness was key in the final, but her resolve shone through too.

Halep, who Sports Illustrated once described as an ‘anti-diva’, will now have her sights set on becoming the first Romanian woman to win multiple Grand Slam titles.

The American was defeated 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 by world number one Simona Halep in Saturday’s championship match at Roland Garros in what was her first defeat in a final after previously boasting a perfect 6-0 record.

The 25-year-old said she was proud to have reached the final but hit out over her treatment in the media after her breakthrough US Open triumph last September was followed by a run of eight successive defeats.

That stretch of misery covered the Asian swing at the end of 2017, the Fed Cup final in Belarus and then Sydney and the Australian Open in January where she suffered back-to-back first round losses.

Her first win in the tour since New York arrived in February in Acapulco.

“You guys are my biggest haters,” she said Saturday.

“Can I just state for the record that all of you guys in here were tweeting that I had a losing record anywhere except for the United States.

“So I think I have done very well to make the finals of the French Open. So if any of you want to tweet that, I would be very happy, give you guys a like, a retweet or something.

“Because you seem to only want to say, ‘she’s 0 and 8 in the other countries, and blah, blah, blah’. Yeah, it’s you and you and a lot of you (pointing to different members of the media).”

Stephens was a set and a break up on Halep before the Romanian’s greater stamina told in the final.

However, Stephens was quick to praise Halep who went into Saturday’s match having lost three successive finals at the Slams.

That run included last year’s Roland Garros showdown against Jelena Ostapenko after leading by a set and 3-0 as well as in Australia in January where she lost a three-setter to Caroline Wozniacki.

“I think she’s had a tough journey. I think winning here is very special for her and I’m glad she finally got her first Slam,” said the American.

“It’s a beautiful thing, very special. No matter how hard the adversity that you go through, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m glad she finally got her light.”

Stephens will rise to number four in the world after her run to the final in Paris but insisted that the rankings were not a priority.

“It’s great that I’m No. 4, but, I mean, the rankings are what they are, and I hope to stay, improve, get better. It’s not something I think about.”

Research has pointed to a long list of hazards ranging from heart attacks and strokes, to unsafe sex, accidents, suicides, and a spike in domestic abuse.

“It is not just a game,” warned a 2010 study in the American Journal of Medicine which said major sporting events “can acutely increase cardiovascular event and death rates.”

Most at risk are patients with known coronary artery disease, it said, or those who find themselves in particularly stressful circumstances: “a passionate fan, a high-stakes game, a high-intensity game, a loss, and a loss played at home.”

Many a football fan may have shouted at the TV that they “nearly had a heart attack” when their team missed a shot at goal or let an opposing player through to score.

But this is not something to joke about.

Research has repeatedly shown that psychological triggers such as stress, anxiety, and anger — emotions any sports fan can relate to — can bring on a heart attack.

“We know that this is an exciting time but don’t forget about your heart health,” advises Julie Ward, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation.

Measures to reduce risk include using blood-thinning aspirin, meditation, and avoiding activities such as smoking, eating artery-clogging, fatty foods, or binging on alcohol or drugs.

– Eye strokes –

Though not within the control of fans, winning or losing makes a difference too, according to one study in New Zealand.

It found a 50 percent increase in hospital admissions for heart failure, particularly among women, after a semi-final loss in the 2003 rugby World Cup.

By contrast, hospitalisations were lower after the country’s 2011 semi-final win.

It is not only our hearts we should watch.

One study noted an explosion during the 2014 World Cup in cases of “retinal vein occlusion” — a blockage of small veins in the eye that is also known as an “eye stroke”.

A common cause of vision loss, it is more common in people with cardiovascular disease.

Researchers compared the number of cases treated at a German university eye clinic during and four weeks afer the 2014 World Cup with the same period in 2013.

It found a definite increase, and said “it can be assumed that the emotional strain caused by a World Cup is a risk factor.”

Why does the beautiful game stir up such dangerous passions?

Psychologists have suggested that sporting events can give people a sense of group belonging and shared identity.

There is also the sense of hope they provide, even for fans of teams that never win… Maybe this time!

With such a deep emotional investment and high expectations, failure can lead to crushing disappointment. And it can drive some to more than just tears.

Several studies have found suicides rocketing after a World Cup defeat.

A study last year found “a significant increase” in hospital admissions of young women in Tehran who drank poison during the four weeks of the 2014 World Cup.

Iran was eliminated in the knockout stages.

Conversely, in 2012, a study reported a “significant decline” in suicides in France during the four weeks of the 1998 football World Cup the country hosted and won.

– Drink water, move around –

A further threat to fans, experts warn, is risky behaviour driven by drinking too much alcohol, leading to road accidents, unsafe sex, and violence.

A 2013 study, looking at trends during the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cups, found the risk of domestic abuse in England rose by 26 percent when the national team won or drew, and 38 percent when it lost.

Keeping an eye on alcohol intake is high on the list of “simple steps to stay healthy” compiled by Ward.

“Make sure you drink plenty of water to keep hydrated during the match,” she added.

“Also cut back on the drinks high in sugar or caffeine as these can affect your heart rate and rhythm,” she told AFP.

No need to cut out snacking altogether.

“But try and have some healthy choices in the house too -– try hummus and carrot sticks, a variety of colourful fruit and some popcorn, either plain or spiced with paprika, chili or rosemary, for a lower-fat, lower calorie alternative to crisps and roasted nuts,” Ward recommended.

And don’t sit down for too long, she added. Get up and move around at least every 30 minutes for the sake of our heart.

“Manuel Lanzini suffered, in today’s morning training, the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee,” the federation wrote in a Twitter message.

The 25-year-old, who had been linked with a summer transfer to Liverpool, now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. His injury is a blow for Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli who had counted on Lanzini for his starting line up.

Argentina’s national team is due to travel to Russia on Saturday for the World Cup. Argentina have been drawn in Group D alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.