Golf, taekwondo bodies unveil dazzling Thai talent
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Golf’s return to the Olympics after a 112-year hiatus has bolstered Thailand’s medal hopes in Rio, where the Kingdom can also rely on its taekwondo exponents to mount a strong challenge.
Thai governing bodies for both sports are confident their athletes can climb the podium at the August 5-21 Games in Brazil, where Thailand is fielding a total of 52 athletes in 16 disciplines.
The dazzling array of talent on the Olympic golf team includes world No 37 Thongchai Jaidee, whose wire-to-wire victory at the French Open this month ensured Thailand will be among the favourites when the competition tees off on August 11 at the newly built Olympic Course in Rio de Janeiro.
Thailand’s prospects in the men’s division brightened even further when the world’s top four players withdrew from the Rio field due to concern over Zika virus.
“We have entered four golfers in the Rio Games: Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the men’s event and Ariya Jutanugarn and Pornaong Phatlum in the women’s,” said secretary general of the Thailand Golf Association Kittisak Chaimongkol Trakul. “We believe we can win a medal as all four are in great form.”
“Thongchai is currently ranked world No 37, and three weeks ago he won the event in France despite playing the final round in the same group as Rory McIlroy. ‘Arm’ [Kiradech] has also had good results, and he now sits 51st in the rankings.
“Ariya is world No 7 after clinching a hat-trick of LPGA victories last month. She’s done well in major events, while Pro Waen [Pornanong] is also performing strongly. So we’re convinced they can win medals.
“Given that all four are professional golfers, we have no concern about their preparations, whether nutrition or training, since they always look after themselves very well.”
Sitting beside Kittisak at the press conference in Supachalasai Stadium was his Taekwondo Association counterpart Somkid Pinthong, who was similarly optimistic about the Olympic prospects of his charges.
Of the three Thai taekwondo exponents to compete in Brazil, Somkid singled out Panipak Wongphattanakit, who last year won the world championship, as the best bet to win the country’s first gold medal in the women’s 49kg class at the Games.
Such is the confidence the association has in Panipak that the teenage fighter, 18, was picked ahead of Chanatip Sonkham, who claimed bronze in the London Games four years ago.
“If anyone asks how good Tennis [Panipak’s nickname] is, the answer is that she’s fought her way second spot in the world rankings behind China’s Wu Jingyu.
“The Chinese athlete won back-to-back Olympic titles and she remains strong. But are we afraid of her? No. In my view, Tennis is not inferior to Wu in terms of technique or physique, since she has long legs. But she needs to work on her speed and power.
“We’re confident at least one of our three athletes will clinch a medal,” said Somkid.
