Chatchawal, Ratchanok crowned Thailand's best of 2011
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Taekwondo exponent Chatchawal Khaolaor and badminton's rising star Ratchanok Inthanon capped remarkable years by landing the best men's and women's amateur athlete awards respectively, while Buakaw Por.Pramuk won the best professional athlete, at Rajamang
Chatchawal won the accolade for exploits that included becoming the first Thai to win a world title, in the 54kg division in South Korea in May, while the prodigious Ratchanok produced her own extraordinary feat by completing a hat-trick of junior world titles in Taiwan last month. Muay thai fighter Buakaw received his award on the back of a year that saw him win all his eight fights.
“I’m thrilled to win this award for the second successive year. Four years ago, I won the best junior athlete award, too. These personnel accolades help me train harder,” said Chatchawal, who also won a gold medal in the Asian Games last year.
“I hope to have another good year in 2012 when I will have the chance to compete in the Olympics in London. I want to succeed in every tournament I compete in as it would be very special if I could claim a hat-trick of awards next year.”
The 16-year-old Ratchanok, who enhanced her dazzling young career with a triumph in the India Open at the weekend, was equally overwhelmed.
“I’m so proud. I’m thankful to everyone who helped me become who I am today. I’ll continue working hard in training to improve myself further. The Olympics come next year and I need to improve my world ranking for a berth in London,” said Ratchanok.
Swimmer Nattapong “James Bond” Ket-in, who secured a gold-medal treble in the recent SEA Games in Indonesia, and teenager golfer Areeya Jutanukan, with three titles under her belt this year, won the best boy’s and girl’s junior athlete awards respectively.
The award for best coach was handed to the national volleyball team’s Kiatipong Ratanakriengkrai. National taekwondo coach Choi Young Seok of South Korea won the best foreign coach award, while the best professional coach went to Atthapol Bussapakom, who led Buriram PEA to their first Thailand Premier League title.
The best team was the women’s volleyball outfit following another successful year, which saw them finish in a respectable sixth place at the World Grand Prix, their best ever placing in the tournament. Krisana Jorchui and Wassana Khoothaweesap won the awards for best men’s and women’s disabled athletes during a presentation ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
