After conquering world golf, Ariya named Thailand’s top athlete of 2018

The 22-year-old’s latest silverware comes after a year in which she swept every major golfing award – Player of the Year, No 1 player, Race to CME Globe (accumulated points), the Annika Major Award, LPGA Vare Trophy, Top 10 Leaders and No 1 on the Money List. 

She was the heavy favourite to clinch Thailand’s top sporting honour over Chanathip, who was the nation’s most successful football player in 2018 after helping Japan’s Consadole Sapporo to a record-high fourth place in the J League.

Thai-Australian Jai Angsuthasawit won the Best Male Amateur award after he became the first Thai to win a cycling keirin gold medal at the Asian Games with a sparkling performance in Jakarta.

The Cycling Association of Thailand, with one gold, two silvers and three bronzes from the Asiad, was named the best sport association of the year.

On the women’s side, taekwondo exponent Panipak Wongpattanakit won the Best Female Amateur Athlete after winning gold medals at the Asian Games and at four World Cup |events.

Women’s Volleyball Team coach Danai Sriwatcharamethakul won Best Thai Coach while Cuban Juan Bautista Fontanills won Best Foreign Coach. The National Women’s volleyball outfit won Best Sports Team while the Best Team event went to the national women’s badminton squad.

A total of 34 awards were presented at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium yesterday. There were also special Honorary Awards for Thai Badminton Association president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul and singer Athiwara Khongmalai (“Toon Bodyslam”).

Patama, also an International Olympic Committee member, was recognised for her work co-ordinating between Thai and international sports bodies while the leading singer of Bodyslam was honoured for his charity run across the country, which raised more than Bt33.6 million.

Selected List of Awards

Best Professional Athlete: Ariya Jutanugarn (golf)

Best Male Amateur Athlete: Jai Angsuthasawit (cyling)

Best Female Amateur Athlete: Panipak Wongpattanakit (taekwondo)

Best Male Junior Athlete: Atichai Phoemsap (boxing)

Best Female Junior: Atthaya Thitikul (golf)

Best Muay Thai Boxer: Tawanchai PK Saenchai Muay Thai Gym

Best Male Para Athlete: Pongsakorn Paeyor (Athletics)

Best Female Para Athlete: Suneeporn Tanomwong (Athletics)

Best Thai Coach: Danai Sriwatcharamethakul (Women’s volleyball team)

Best Foreign Coach: Juan Bautista Fontanills of Cuba (boxing)

Best Sports Team: National Women’s volleyball

Best Team event: National women’s badminton team

Best Sports Association: Thai Cycling Association