Sport in Thailand
Sports in Thailand play a significant role in
]Thailand has a history of competing in and achieving success in international sports competitions, as well as making remarkable contributions to regional events. The country has won the most medals in the
Multi-sport events within the country, such as the Thailand National Games and the Thailand National Youth Games, provide a platform for athletes from all provinces to participate, showcasing Thailand's ability to foster and develop sports at the grassroots level and encouraging healthy competition among young athletes. These events are organized by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), which is responsible for promoting and developing sports in the country. The SAT collaborates with various sports associations and organizations to host national and international events with the support of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF), which provides financial assistance for the development of sports in Thailand. Furthermore, Thailand also celebrates a National Sports Day annually on December 16, which aims to promote sports and physical activity across the country with various events and activities organized in different regions to encourage participation and healthy competition among the public.
Traditional sports
National sports
Muay Thai
One of the most famous legends in Muay Thai is that of
While Muay Thai has been popular in Thailand for a long time, it gained widespread popularity in the western world in the late 20th century.
Notable Muay Thai fighters include
Sepak takraw
Takraw, also known as
Thailand is the most successful team in Sepak Takraw, having won all the tournaments in the ISTAF World Cup in both men's and women's categories in 2011 and 2017, and four gold medals in all of the premier division's events they participated in at the 2022 tournament. They have also won the most gold medals in the King's Cup Sepaktakraw World Championship, Asian Games, and Southeast Asian Games.
The
Other sports
Krabi krabong
Long-tail boat racing
Long-tail boat racing is a boat racing involves racing long-tail boats, also known as "Ruea Hang Yao". These wooden boats have been used for transportation and fishing in Thailand for centuries and are powered by an engine mounted on a long pole at the rear. Thanks to their agility and speed, they're perfect for racing, and the Thailand Powerboat Association is the governing body that oversees the sport. They organize the annual Thailand Long-Tail Boat Championship, which takes place in various locations throughout Thailand.[24][11]
Long boat racing
Long boat racing is a traditional Thai boat racing that dates back to ancient times. It was mentioned in historical archives during the
Makruk
Dab Thai
Dab Thai, also known as Thai fencing, is a sport developed from
Team sports
Basketball
Football
Thailand also has a strong women's football program, with the women's national team nicknamed the Chaba Kaew. The team won the AFC Women's Asian Cup in 1983 and have qualified for two FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2019. In addition, the team has won the AFF Women's Championship four times, in 2011, 2015, 2016, and 2018. The women's team has also had success in the Southeast Asian Games, winning the championship five times, in 1985, 1995, 1997, 2007, and 2013. There is also a women's league in Thailand, called the Thai Women's League, which was established in 2009 and currently consists of 10 teams.
The Football Association of Thailand also known as FA Thailand is responsible for organizing and overseeing football in the country, including the national team and domestic league.
Futsal
Thailand has a strong presence in
Rugby union
In 1938, the Thai Rugby Union was established and later legally registered in 1939. The sport, however, is not widely popular in Thailand, as association football remains the dominant sport. Despite this, rugby union is slowly growing in popularity, with more and more people becoming interested in the sport, particularly in the Bangkok area.[33]
Teqball
Ice hockey
Ice hockey has been played in Thailand since the 1980s. The Ice Skating Association of Thailand, established in 1976, was later renamed to the Ice Hockey Association of Thailand (IHAT).[35] Despite the tropical climate and lack of ice rinks, the popularity of ice hockey has grown in Thailand, with several teams competing in local and international tournaments. The Thai national ice hockey teams have achieved some results in international competitions, with the men's team participating in the World Championships, Asian Winter Games, and Challenge Cup of Asia, and the women's team competing in the World Championships, Asian Winter Games, and Women's Challenge Cup of Asia.
Volleyball
The Volleyball Thailand League was founded in 2005 and has become one of the most competitive volleyball leagues in Asia. The most recent champions of the Women's Volleyball Thailand League are Supreme Chonburi, who won their third title, while the Women's team of Nakhon Ratchasima have also achieved success, winning five championships. In the Men's Volleyball Thailand League, Nakhon Ratchasima has dominated the league, winning seven championships, including the most recent one in the 2020-2021 season.
Thailand has also competed in beach volleyball at the international level, but the sport is not as popular as indoor volleyball. The country's national teams in beach volleyball participated in the 2018–2020 AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in both the women's and the men's sections.[36] However, despite its growing popularity, beach volleyball remains a niche sport in Thailand compared to indoor volleyball.
The Thailand Volleyball Association (TVA), which was founded in 1959, is responsible for promoting and developing volleyball in the country, including both indoor and beach volleyball.
Individual sports
Athletics
The
Thailand has hosted several international athletics events, including the 2017 Asian Youth Athletics Championships and the 2021 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. In addition, the country hosted the World Athletics Global Running Conference in 2022, along with the Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok.[39]
Badminton
Badminton is one of the most popular sports in Thailand,[1] with a long history dating back to the establishment of the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) in 1950. Since then, Thailand has produced many notable badminton players who have achieved great success both nationally and internationally. One of the most successful badminton players from Thailand is Ratchanok Intanon. She burst onto the international scene by winning the World Junior Championships in 2009. In the following years, she went on to win the title twice more, becoming the most successful player ever in individual events at the BWF World Junior Championships. Intanon also won the World Championships in 2013 and has been ranked as the world number one in women's singles badminton.
Another player who has achieved great success in both junior and senior categories is Kunlavut Vitidsarn. He is a three-time World Junior champion, winning in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and also became the first men's singles player to win three World Junior Championships titles. He has also made a name for himself in the senior category, winning the silver medal at the 2022 BWF World Championships. Other notable players from Thailand include Busanan Ongbamrungphan, Nitchaon Jindapol, and Kantaphon Wangcharoen.
In addition to singles events, Thailand has also produced several notable players in doubles events. In women's doubles, Benyapa Aimsaard and Nuntakarn Aimsaard have made a name for themselves on the international stage, as have Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai. In mixed doubles, Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Bowling
Bowling has gained popularity in Thailand over the years, with many talented bowlers representing the country in international competitions. Yannaphon Larpapharat is one such notable bowler who has made a name for himself in the sport. He won a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon in the men's individual event.[40] Sithiphol Kunaksorn is another notable Thai bowler, who won a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games in the men's singles event.
Combat sports
Boxing
Thailand has produced several notable boxers who have made their mark in the sport. Somluck Kamsing is one of the most famous Thai boxers, having won the gold medal in featherweight boxing at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Khaosai Galaxy who held the WBA super flyweight title for over seven years and defended his title 19 times. Somjit Jongjohor is another notable Thai boxer who won the gold medal in light flyweight boxing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Other notable boxers from Thailand include Samart Payakaroon, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, who have all achieved great success in their respective weight classes.
Jujutsu
Jujutsu has seen a rise in popularity in Thailand after the Thai jujutsu team's impressive performance at the 2022 World Games in the United States, winning 2 gold medals and 2 silver medals. As a result, the Ju-Jitsu Association of Thailand is expanding the sport's popularity by organizing at least four competitions to collect points at the youth, youth, and public championships in Thailand. The last Ju-Jitsu Thailand Championship saw more than 2,000 athletes participating in the competition.[41]
Taekwondo
The Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT) was founded in 1978 and has played role in promoting the sport of taekwondo in Thailand. Panipak Wongpattanakit is a highly successful athlete in the sport, winning numerous medals at various international championships and making history by winning Thailand's first-ever Olympic gold medal in taekwondo at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the women's 49 kg event. She is also a world champion and a gold medalist at the 2018 Asian Games in the 49 kg category
Thai martial arts
- Muay Thai
- Krabi krabong
- Muay boran
- Lerdrit
- Silat Pattani
Cycling
Cycling is one of the favorite sports in Thailand,[3] and the Thai Cycling Association was established in 1959. One of the notable Thai national cyclists is Komet Sukprasert, who was sent to train at the World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Switzerland.[42] He won the Asian BMX Championship 2022 and the Malaysia BMX International Race 2022 in Malaysia[43]
Golf
Thailand has earned a reputation as the golf capital of Asia due to its growing popularity as a golfing destination.[44] Tourists from Japan, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and Western countries come to play golf in Thailand every year,[45] and the country has more than 200 world-class golf courses.[46] Notable golf courses in Thailand include Amata Spring Country Club, Alpine Golf and Sports Club, Thai Country Club, and Black Mountain Golf Club, which have all hosted major golf tournaments.
Thailand has also produced several notable golfers, including Ariya Jutanugarn and her sister Moriya Jutanugarn, who have both won multiple LPGA titles. Other notable Thai golfers include Thongchai Jaidee, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, and Jazz Janewattananond, who have all competed in major golf tournaments and gained international recognition for their success in the sport.
One of the rising stars in Thai golf is Atthaya Thitikul, who became the youngest golfer ever to win a professional tournament at just 14 years old. She has since gone on to win multiple tournaments on both the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour, and in October 2022, she became the number one ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings.
Jet skiing
Motorsports
Snooker
The country has produced several successful
Swimming
Swimming is one of the favorite sports in Thailand,[3] with many talented athletes representing the country at various international competitions. Notable swimmers include Natthanan Junkrajang, Nuttapong Ketin, Jenjira Srisaard, and Navaphat Wongcharoen.
Table tennis
Tennis
The Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand (LTAT) is the governing body for tennis in the country and organizes various tournaments and events throughout the year. Notable players include Paradorn Srichaphan, who reached a career-high ranking of world number 9 in singles and won five ATP singles titles, as well as Tamarine Tanasugarn, who reached a career-high ranking of world number 19 in singles and won a total of four WTA singles titles. In addition, Thai players have achieved success in doubles, with the team of Sonchat Ratiwatana and Sanchai Ratiwatana winning 12 ATP doubles titles together.
Esports
In September 2021, the
Sport leagues
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Futsal
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Volleyball
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Basketball
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Muay Thai
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Ice hockey
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Multi-sport event
All time medal count
Hosted sporting events
National
Thailand National Games
Thailand National Para Games
Thailand National Youth Games
Thailand University Games
Thailand National Student Games
Thailand Local Administration Student Games
International and regional
Southeast Asian Games
Asian Games
Olympic Games
Paralympic Games
Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games
World Games
See also
- Thailand at the Olympics
- List of football stadiums in Thailand
- List of sporting events held in Thailand
References
- AThe medal counts provided include only the results from the 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022 editions of the ASEAN University Games. Results from earlier editions were not available.
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