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Thais racing to the top at jet ski World Cup in Pattaya

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022

Thai jet ski racers are in the running to win trophies at the third round of the World Cup Grand Prix wraps up at Jomtien beach on Sunday.

The third and final round of this year’s WGP No 1 Waterjet World Cup 2022 will decide the champions.

The first round was held in Poland in July and the second was held in the US in October.

Athletes in each category are competing in four motos to win more points for the prizes.

Thai athletes took all top three placements in the first moto in the Pro-AM Ski Stock division. Nantawat Singurai won the gold, while twins Tanawin and Tanawid Molee took second and third, respectively.

Nantawat took first place in the second moto, while Tanawid snatched second place from his twin. Tanawin came in third.

Nantawat finished his first day with 120 points while the Molee twins took 101 points each.

The result will be decided after another two motos on Saturday.

In the Pro-AM Runabout Superstock division, only one moto was completed on Friday. Hungarian Zsolt Cseke won, while Thai Katanyu Chomim took second place and UAE racer Khalid Almazmi came in third.

Athletes will compete in the last three races on Saturday.

The competition will also be broadcast on TrueVision on Saturday and Sunday. Channel 5 will broadcast Sunday’s matches from 11am to 12pm. MCOT HD will also broadcast the event on Sunday, from 2pm to 4pm.

For more information visit the competition’s Facebook page or YouTube channel.

Related stories

• Jetskiing World Cup finals take off in Pattaya
• Thai fighters face Asia’s top kickboxers in Bangkok qualifying for World Combat Games
• Champagne sailing conditions greet sailors on second day of Phuket King’s Cup

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King Bhumibol’s gold medal for sailing commemorated on National Sports Day

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022

On this day 55 years ago, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great (Rama IX) won a gold medal for sailing in the 4th South East Asia Peninsular (SEAP) Games, now called the SEA Games.

HM King Bhumibol was racing the “Navarerk” (No. 27), an OK Dinghy he built himself. His eldest daughter, HM Princess Ubolratana, was sailing Dinghy No. 18, which the late king also built. They tied for first place in the OK Dinghy division and shared a gold medal, which was presented to them by HM Queen Sirikit.

In 1989, the government commemorated this historic event by naming December 16 as National Sports Day.

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Argentina near full-strength for World Cup final against France

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022

Reuters

Argentina made a statement in their 3-0 World Cup semi-final win over Croatia and will head into Sunday’s (December 18) showpiece with two players back from suspension and Angel Di Maria fit and ready to face France.

At a training session in the Qatari capital Doha on Thursday (December 15), the Argentine squad was missing a few of its players, including star forward Lionel Messi. No word was immediately available to explain their absence but starters in previous games are often given rest days to help recuperate their energy.
 

Former Argentina international Sergio Aguero, who abruptly retired exactly one year ago due to a heart condition, visited the team and watched the training session from the sidelines.

Defenders Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna missed the semi-final as they were suspended after accumulating two yellow cards.

Left back Acuna was the biggest loss for Argentina in that game as he has been a critical part of coach Lionel Scaloni’s set-up during the tournament, playing in all of their previous five games and starting four times.

In their quarter-final against the Netherlands, he was arguably one of Argentina’s best players, winning nine of his 13 duels, completing 100% of his dribbles and earning the penalty from which Lionel Messi scored their second goal.

He could be critical if Argentina are to control that side of the pitch, where France have Ousmane Dembele in great form.

Montiel has been a squad player but he was also vital in their win over the Dutch, converting in the penalty shootout, which Argentina won 4-3.

Argentina Training – Qatar University Training Site 3, Doha, Qatar – December 15, 2022 General view during training
 

The third piece of the puzzle that could be key to Argentina’s success against France is midfielder Di Maria, who was left on the bench for the whole of the semi-final against Croatia as Argentina cruised home having taken a first-half lead.

Di Maria, who has been recovering from a thigh injury suffered against Poland in the group stage, has played only nine minutes in Argentina’s last three matches. Yet he is expected to be fit and ready to go in Sunday’s final.

The 34-year-old was Argentina’s hero in last year’s Copa America final against bitter rivals Brazil, scoring the goal that earned them their first major title in 28 years.

He and Messi are the only two Argentina players who were also in the squad that lost the 2014 World Cup final against Germany in Brazil.

Di Maria, who missed that match more than eight years ago due to injury, will get a second chance to get his hands on the most sought-after prize in world football and should be fresh for the final as Argentina go in search of a third World Cup title.
 

Reuters

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France into final with 2-0 win as Morocco go down fighting

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022

Reuters

France set up a heavyweight World Cup final against Argentina after an early goal by Theo Hernandez and a late one from Randal Kolo Muani ended battling Morocco’s dream run via an action-packed 2-0 semi-final victory on Wednesday (December 14).

Full back Hernandez stretched high after five minutes to hook in the first goal Morocco have conceded to an opposition player in the tournament after a scramble in the box, but the holders offered only occasional glimpses of their class.
 

Morocco, disrupted by early injuries to two key defenders, recovered to cause no end of problems, with Hugo Lloris brilliantly saving Jawad El Yamiq’s overhead kick at the end of the first half and the outsiders pouring forward for much of the second.

However, they could not quite fashion a clear enough chance for the equaliser and were unable to extend the astonishing run that included victories over Belgium, Spain and Portugal and made them the first African team to make the semi-finals.

France
 

France settled it in the 79th minute when a brilliant dribble by Kylian Mbappe set up Kolo Muani to tuck in the decisive goal with his first touch less than a minute after coming on.

France will be hugely relieved to become the first defending champions to reach successive finals since Brazil in 2002 and can now look forward to Sunday’s showdown when they will bid to follow Brazil (1962) and Italy (1938) as the third

FranceMorocco
 

Reuters

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Jetskiing World Cup finals take off in Pattaya

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022

More than 2,000 athletes and their support staff have descended on Pattaya for the Jetskiing World Cup that got underway on Wednesday.

The WGP#1 Waterjet World Cup 2022 is being held until December 18 at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya.

The event is part of Thailand’s efforts to promote sports tourism and project its soft power.

The finals of this international event will be broadcast to some 800 million households around the world.

The first round of the tournament was held in Poland in July while the second round was held in the US in October.

Visit the Facebook page and YouTube channel of Jet Ski World Cup Grand Prix for more information or get a grandstand ticket at Jomtien Beach from Wednesday.

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Thai fighters face Asia’s top kickboxers in Bangkok qualifying for World Combat Games

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022

Thai athletes are taking on top fighters from 20 countries at the Asian Kickboxing Confederation Championships 2022 in Bangkok, with qualification for the 2023 World Combat Games at stake.

Bangkok was chosen to host this year’s tournament after the success of October’s Thailand Kickboxing Championships 2022, KickBoxing Association of Thailand chief Kukiat Srinaka told Tuesday’s press conference.

Thai fighters are expected to use the advantage of home turf to book berths at next year’s World Combat Games in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

They are up against top martial artists from Cambodia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Iran, Syria, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal, India, South Korea and Uzbekistan.

The Riyadh World Combat Games will be held on October 21 to 30 next year.

The Asian Kickboxing Confederation Championships runs at Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai-Japan) in Din Daeng until Sunday.

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Thailand’s own Messi rooting for namesake and Argentina in World Cup final

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022

Thai football star Chanathip “Messi Jay” Songkrasin says he is rooting for the player he was named after to win the 2022 World Cup.

Leo Messi’s Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in their semi-final match in the early hours of Wednesday (Thai time) to book their place in Sunday’s final.

Messi gave a footballing masterclass against Croatia, scoring a penalty for his fifth goal of the tournament, which puts him level with France’s Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.

He also mesmerised defender Josko Gvardiol before providing the pass that Julian Alvarez converted for Argentina’s second goal.

Messi and Argentina must now beat the winner of tonight’s match between France and Morocco to secure their third World Cup.

The build-up to Tuesday night’s match saw Chanathip – whose skills and short stature earned him the comparison with the world’s top footballer – join fellow Thai footballing greats Teeratep Winothai and Pongpisut Pue-On under the “Honda Click Series” media spotlight.

Chanathip said he was cheering for Argentina in this World Cup because of their captain Messi.

“I am rooting for Lionel Messi. I want Argentina to become the champions. Anything can happen in football, but I want Messi to win the World Cup.”

Chanathip also revealed he would not join the Thailand national team when they defend their Asean (AFF) Championship title from December 20 to January 16.

He explained he needed time for his body to recover for the Japanese league season, adding the team was still strong without him.

“I am currently resting my body to be fully fit for the upcoming J League season with my club [Kawasaki Frontale],” he said.

Chanathip became the first Thai to play in Japan’s top league back in 2017.

“I hope the next season will be my great year and [I] do not get injured,” he added.

Chanathip is in Thailand for a short holiday before returning for training with Kawasaki Frontale, who were runners-up in the league last season, on January 10.

Related stories

• Argentina sweep past Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final
• Ayutthaya kids recreate Fifa World Cup, Thai style
• Where to watch World Cup semi-finals in Thailand

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https://www.nationthailand.com/lifestyle/sport/40023056

Argentina sweep past Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022

Reuters

Two goals by swashbuckling striker Julian Alvarez and a Lionel Messi penalty gave Argentina a 3-0 victory over 2018 runners-up Croatia in the first World Cup semi-final on Tuesday (December 13) to set up a showpiece meeting with France or Morocco on Sunday.

Messi put Argentina ahead with a 34th-minute penalty after goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic tripped Alvarez as he chased a simple long ball and the Manchester City forward then charged 50 metres, somehow keeping possession via two rebounds as defenders tried to tackle him, to poke in the second five minutes later.

Croatia, who came from behind to beat Japan and Brazil on penalties in the last two rounds, tried to hit back in the second half but their neat passing failed to open any real cracks in a determined Argentine defence.

Messi then burst into life, showing mesmerising control to drive to the byline and pull the ball back for Alvarez to tuck in the third after 69 minutes and wrap up the victory.
 

Reuters

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Ayutthaya kids recreate Fifa World Cup, Thai style

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022

Students from Ayutthaya Witthayalai School have recreated the Fifa World Cup – with a Thai-style twist. The kids climbed aboard mounts from the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal for a football rumble.

The 11 elephants taking part were painted in the national flags of World Cup teams. The jumbo exhibition match was held to promote sports and campaign against gambling on the Fifa tournament in Thailand.

Related stories

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Where to watch World Cup semi-finals in Thailand

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022

The 2022 Fifa World Cup reaches the semi-final stage tonight with four teams left eyeing the trophy.

The bookmakers have France as favourites to win the tournament, followed by Argentina and Croatia. Morocco are the outsiders.

Tonight’s first semi-final will see Lionel Messi lead Argentina against Luka Modric’s Croatia at Lusail Stadium (kick-off 2am Thai time).

Argentina are missing two fullbacks – Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna – after they received second yellow cards in the heated quarter-final against the Netherlands. The match generated a record 18 yellow cards and ended in a 4-3 penalty shootout win for Argentina.

Montiel, who started at right wing-back in the quarter-final, is expected to be replaced by Nahuel Molina. Left wing-back Marcos Acuna will likely be replaced by Nicolas Tagliafico.

Croatia have a full squad to choose from since no players received a second yellow in their 4-2 penalty shootout win against Brazil.

The Argentina-Croatia match will be broadcast on True4U and True Sports 2 channels.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé’s France play underdogs Morocco on Wednesday night at 2am Thai time.

Morocco forward Walid Cheddira is suspended for the semi after receiving a red card in the 1-0 win against Portugal.

France versus Morocco will be broadcast on ONE 31 and True Sports 2 channels.

The third-place playoff will be broadcast on True4U, PPTV, and True Sports 2 on Saturday at 10pm.

Sunday’s final will be broadcast on True4U, 7HD and True Sports 2 at 10pm.

Related stories

• ‘Dream’ replaces ‘Journey’: Adidas unveils ball for World Cup semis, final
• ‘France to win World Cup and Mbappe best player’ – Ronaldo on Les Bleus and England
• ‘There’s a whole country behind Messi’ Argentina prepare for Croatia