The 2018 Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) is back again this weekend and will feature the inaugural “25 For 25 Sprint” sprint-distance triathlon to mark the 25th anniversary of the event.

“The Race of Legends”, which comprises a 1.8km swim, 50km bike race and 12km run, will take place at the “Laguna Phuket” complex in Thalang District on Phuket Island on Sunday. Thousands of athletes and spectators around the world are expected to attend.

 The event once again features a strong pro athlete line-up, including four-time champion Massimo Cigana of Italy, Bart Aernouts of Belgium, runner-up in the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, Stuart Hayes of England, Per van Vlerken of Germany and Marcel Zamora Perez of Spain.

In the women’s field, sports fans will get to see Emma Pallent of England, winner of the 2017 Penticton ITU Aquathon World Championships  and Yvonne van Vlerken of the Netherlands, the 2008 Ironman World Championships runner-up.

Both are expected to be in a tight contest with 2004 ITU World Triathlon Championship winner Madeira Annabel Luxford of Australia.

Phuket-born Jaray Jearanai, who holds the record as LPT’s national champion for the last seven years, will hope to continue his domination of local rivals in the field.

To mark the 25th edition, LPT, Asia’s longest-standing triathlon race, will also unveil its inaugural “25 For 25 Sprint” triathlon, a 0.5km swim, 18.5km bike race and 6km run.

Saturday also sees the second annual LPT Charity Fun Run “Run for Fun, Run for Kids” (5Km, 10Km and 2Km Kids Run) to raise funds for more than 400 children in Phuket’s seven orphanages. Charity Ambassador and actress Rachwin “Koy” Wongviriya will also take part in the event.

“I am pleased that the 25th Laguna Phuket Triathlon will once again attract athletes from around the world to Phuket Province,” said race director Prapa Hemmin.

“We are expecting more than 1,200 athletes to join the race on Sunday, plus more than 2,500 to participate in the Charity Fun Run on Saturday – all will help us celebrate the race’s 25-year milestone.”

The race is expected to boost tourism on the island by more than Bt94 million in one weekend alone.

The sixth seeded easily picked off the off-form Japanese who held a better head-to-head record of 11-8 over the Thai coming to the match. The former world No 1 booked her spot in the semi-sinals for the first time after she reached this stage in the Malaysia Open in June.

Ratchanok will play South Korean Sung Ji Hyun who advanced into the semi-finals after Chinese He Bingjiao retured with injury at 13-21 11-19 in Sung’s favour.

However, Thai No 3 Pornpawee Chochuwong  went down to 2017 world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan 21-12 16-21 21-6.

In mixed doubles, the in-form Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai beat Hafiz Faizal and Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja of Indonesia 21-12 15-21 21-13.

The Football Association of Indonesia had requested 5,000 tickets for the group B game, an increase from 2,400 seats on its original demand, but FAT spokesperson Patit Suphaphongs said the request must be declined, even though the game is still not a sell-out.

He pointed to security concerns as the reason why FAT would not provide the extra 2,400 requested by the visitors. As of Thursday, more than 25,000 tickets had been sold for the game at the 60,000-capacity stadium.

“We are concerned about offering seats that may affect security – we have no desire to sell tickets to away close to the home fans,” Patit said.

“However, if Indonesia insist they need more than [their original] 2,600 seats, we will inform the organising committee for consideration.”

Meanwhile it was decided at a meeting on Friday between representatives of the two teams that Thailand will wear play in navy blue ands Indonesia in red.

The game kicks off at 6.30pm and is being broadcast live on Channel 7.

Thailand, who are seeking a hat-trick of Suzuki Cup triumphs, thrashed Timor Leste 7-0 last Friday in their opening match, six of the goals scored by one player, Adisak Kraisorn of Muangthong United.

Indonesia have one defeat (1-0 to Singapore) and one win (3-1 over East Timor).

The 34-year-old was picked by close friend, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, to team up and fly Thailand’s flag together, where the duo will take on the world at The Metropolitan Golf Club from November 22 to 25.

“My dad (Suthep) played in World Cup of Golf previously, so it’s nice I will get a chance to play in the World Cup too and follow in his footsteps. To have the opportunity to represent Thailand is nice for the family,” said Prom, who is a two-time Asian Tour winner.

Strong family ties have provided the foundation in Prom’s golf career. His father Suthep, now 70, was the first local golfer to win the Thailand Open in 1991, which needless to say, inspired Prom to play the game as a career.

He also regards Kiradech as family after both golfers grew up together under the tutelage of late coach Natpasit Chokthanasart, better known as Pro Jew in the local golfing fraternity, during their junior days.

“We played a lot of golf together and we’ve said we must partner together in a team event at least once. So when he asked me to play in the World Cup of Golf, it was really nice to hear that,” said Prom. “I’m so happy to be picked by him. We grew up together, had the same coach, have been good friends for a long time. Our families are also very close,” he added.

While Kiradech, who has enjoyed three top-fives in the World Golf Championships in 2018, has been blazing a new trail for Thai golf recently where he earned a PGA TOUR card for the 2018-19 Season, Prom has enjoyed a steady season on the Asian Tour with three top-10s and seven other top-25s.

Nicknamed the Big Dolphin due to his physique and the fact that he hails from a coastal town, Prom believes he and Kiradech can produce a good showing for Team Thailand.

“We’ll go out and enjoy ourselves,” said Prom. “In fourball, he’s very aggressive and that’s a good thing. I will be his back-up and in foursomes, my accuracy will help the team. I think we can contend. The way I’m playing this year and Kiradech has played so well too, we can have a chance. Kiradech has stepped onto the highest level and we’re really proud he’s flying the Thai flag on the PGA TOUR.

“Our senior players, Boonchu Ruangkit, Thaworn Wiratchant, Prayad Marksaeng and Thongchai Jaidee, have done a lot for golf in Thailand, so now it’s my generation and Kiradech’s generation. It would be the right time to have a good finish in the World Cup of Golf and show Thai golf and Asian golf can win anywhere.”

Prom, who is five years older, recalled the first time he met Kiradech and recalled how they struck an immediate bond. “He was about eight or nine and I was around 14. We played junior golf together, but under different age groups and our coach got me to practise with him. We hung out together and always traveled together. Even then we were playing on the European Tour for several years, we were regular roommates. He’s a genuine guy,” said Prom.

Kiradech, currently ranked 39^th in the world, remembers the first time he and Prom went head-to-head in a junior event. “I started well and got eight shots ahead and in the car ride home, I told him ‘I’ll kick your ass’ and then he goes and shoot six and seven under! On the last day, I was one behind with one hole to play and walking up the 18^th tee, I told him I wanted to win the event badly and as he’d won it twice before, I asked him to give me the win.

“He laughed at me and as I lined up a 50-foot putt for birdie, he walked around me and said if I holed that putt, he’d give me the win. I laughed too as I knew I wasn’t going to hole the putt. He then told me that one day, we’ll have to team up and not play against each other. This dream is coming true,” said Kiradech.

Prom’s wife is scheduled to deliver their second child, a boy, this weekend and hopes the latest addition would eventually pick up the sport and keep up the family tradition.

“I hope he follow my footstep too,” said Prom.

A Thailand win at the World Cup of Golf would certainly provide the inspiration for the new-born, and Prom and Kiradech are certainly determined to have all the fun in the world at The Metropolitan Golf Club as they live up a childhood promise together.