Stories tagged with sports
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Downhill mountain-biking popular in CM
Many tourists visiting Thailand’s northern city of Chiang Mai do so not only to enjoy the many attractions the city itself as to offer, but to get out into the beautiful countryside characteristic of Thailand’s north. Aside form the many trekking opportunities in the jungle-covered province; many come looking for something a bit more adrenaline-fueled.
Those who find the mandatory elephant rides are too tame usually set out for white water rafting or other more dangerous activities. The latest trend to sweep the region is downhill mountain-biking, and daredevils are flocking to Chiang Mai to experience what have been called some of the toughest descents in the sport.
The Doi Pui mountain, accessible past Chiang Mai’s landmark Doi Suthep temple that looks out over the city, is where most mountain-biking thrill seekers head, and local experts take customers up and show them the ropes on a variety of trails according to experience levels.
For those ready for the challenge, contact Mountain Biking Chiang Mai at www.mountainbikingchiangmai.com, where one to three day bike trips can be arranged.
Posted by: DaveB on 22 Apr 2008, 18:11 -
Korat Asean Para Games
Korat is once again playing host to 1,500 disabled athletes at the Asean Para Games which opened on Sunday.
Athletes from all over Asean will compete, including from: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Burma, Brunei and Timor Leste.
The event is being held at His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima province, known locally as Korat. The games take place after the SEA Games by the same host nation, as with the Asian Games and the Olympics.
Over 900 gold medals are up for grabs across many events including: athletics, goal-ball, judo, power-lifting, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, archery, boccia, fencing, shooting, table tennis, badminton, and chess.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was the host of the first Asean Para Games in 2001. Athletics and swimming were the only events back then.
Athletics, swimming, goal-ball, boccia, and wheelchair tennis will take place at the main stadium; while wheelchair basketball, badminton, chess and fencing will be held at Suranaree University of Technology facilities; Rajamangala University of Technology will host judo; and Chanapolkhan Institute of Technology will see the much anticipated power-lifting event.
Thailand and Vietnam are the favourites to win the games.
More on Thailand
Posted by: Andrew on 20 Jan 2008, 12:43 -
World-class windsurfers on Phuket rally
Thirty world-class windsurfers are currently racing down the west coast of Phuket on a 100-kilometre, four-day event which set off from Nai Yang Beach, held in honour of His Majesty the King
Thailand’s first international windsurfing rally championship has attracted top windsurfers from 21 countries around the world for the four days of racing.
Members from the Eastern Windsurfing Club (EWC) have joined forces with the Windsurfing Association of Thailand, the Yacht Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
The windsurfers set off from Nai Yang beach on January 16 following a welcome speech at the Indigo Pearl Hotel by Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima and the race began from Surin Beach just after midday.
Of the quality windsurfers in the line-up are: Austrian Olympic gold medalist Christoph Sieber; Italian world champion and Olympic competitor Riccardo Giordano; British windsurfing champion Guy Cribb; Australian champion Chris Lawrence; German windsurfing champion Alexander Baron; and French champion Patrice Belbeoc'h.
The first leg on Wednesday went from Surin Beach to Patong, with the second leg onto Kata from Patong on Friday and the final leg from Kata to Nai Harn on Saturday 19th.
The closing ceremony of the event will be held on Saturday evening at The Royal Phuket Yacht Club in Nai Harn, where prizes will be awarded by the Tourism and Sports Minister Suwit Yodmanee.
More on water sports in Phuket
Posted by: Andrew on 18 Jan 2008, 16:25 -
Thai squad ready for England training
The Thai national football team has begun their training for the 2010 World Cup qualification and is looking forward to training in England with Manchester City before their opener against Japan in Tokyo in February.
The team has been preparing at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok and is looking forward to training with Manchester City Football Club, which is currently owned by the former Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
The trip is the brainchild of Mr Thaksin which will be sponsored by his firm, Thaicom Foundation.
The president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), Worawi Makudi, has agreed that the training in England will help the squad prepare better for their group phase of Asia's qualification.
‘We hope the training in Manchester will be useful’ says Worawi. He goes on to say ‘playing Japan first is tough so we must be well-prepared.’
Thailand coach, Chanvit Phalajivin, is also upbeat with the training in England and would like his players see how professional players go about their daily training. The winter climate in the UK will also help the Thai squad to acclimatize to the cool Japanese weather.
The top two teams of all five groups will reach the World Cup Finals. As part of Asian qualifying, Thailand are grouped with Japan, Oman and Bahrain.
The game against Japan will be in Tokyo on February 6 and Worawi and Chanvit believe their men are good enough to come away with a point.
Three of the Thai national football side already have contracts with Manchester City - Suree Sukha, Teerasil Dangda and Kiatprawut Saiwaew's - which began on January 1.
Posted by: Andrew on 09 Jan 2008, 03:11 -
SEA Games kick off in Khorat
The 24th Southeast Asian Games is set to commence in the Northeastern City of Khorat (Nakorn Ratchasima), returning to Thailand for the first time in 12 years. Comprising the 11 nations that make up ASEAN, the games this year will feature 43 disciplines and 5282 athletes competing between the 6th and 15th of December.
Conveniently co-inciding with the 80th Birthday celebrations for His Majesty the King, the games will also include a Princess of the Crown Prince competing in badminton, and feature a number of sports unique to Asia such as sepak takraw (a kind of volleyball without hands), wushu and Thai kick boxing.
Thailand is a hot favourite to take home the most medals, but will also face heavy competition from Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Events include; athletics, swimming, football, gymnastics, basketball, tennis, triathlon, mountain biking, rugby, taekwondo, equestrian, sailing and even billiards, body building and pentanque.
Korat is located two hours drive northeast of Bangkok, and welcomes visiting tourists. However accommodation at short notice will be difficult to find.
SEA Games site
Posted by: Andrew on 07 Dec 2007, 15:23 -
Manchester coach lands in Bangkok
Coach of Manchester City Football Club, Sven-Goran Eriksson flew into Bangkok on Thursday afternoon to the delight of both fans and media personnel. The man was immediately swamped by photographers and cameramen.
Despite all the media attention, the footballer failed to make a statement or speak with any members of the press.
Eriksson was accompanied by Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of Thailand’s former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now the owner of the football club. Panthongtae is fighting charges in Thailand for tax fraud.
It is rumored that Eriksson is in the country in order to sign Suree Sukha with the British club. The Thai international player would be the first Thai national to play with a top European club if the proposal is extended by Eriksson on Friday and accepted by Sukha.
Sukha currently earns about $300 a week playing for the domestic league but all that could change if he moved to Europe.
Eriksson is also visiting Bangkok in order to raise the profile of the team in Asia, but if that was his primary goal, he may have been disappointed. Although some fans turned out, the scene was dominated by media, security guards and Thaksin’s political supporters.
At least two dozen airport security guards accompanied Eriksson through the airport and into a luxury German sedan while around 50 cameramen tried to capture him on film.
Posted by: Jen on 15 Nov 2007, 18:38 -
Thailand ready to host SEA Games 2007
Thailand is getting ready to host this year’s South East Asian Games (SEA Games) and so far event organizers say that preparations are going well. The 24th SEA Games will be held in Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, from December 6th to 15th.
The chairman of the organising administration committee for the games, ADM Suravudh Maharom, said that Thailand would be ready in time.
"The stadiums are in good condition," said Suravudh. "Information center and broadcasting system are excellent."
The biennial event will see 11 nations competing in 45 sports and two demonstration events. The majority of the competitions will take place in Nakhon Ratchasima, in Thailand’s north east, however some events will be held in Pattaya and Bangkok.
Suravudh said that Korat was the perfect place to host the games as the local people love sport and it is this passion to play that is the heart of the event.
"It is not like the Olympic Games or the Asian Games but it is the biggest event in Southeast Asia," he said. "It is a good venue for the athletes in the region to prepare themselves for bigger events. More importantly it helps unite people in the region."
Most events requiring water, including Sailing and Wind-Surfing, Rowing, Canoeing, Traditional Boat Race, Triathlon and Duathlon, will take place in Chonburi, Pattaya, a beach location just south of Bangkok. The Equestrian competition will also be held there.
Many popular events will be held in Bangkok such as Baseball, Handball and Hockey. In addition, spectators can watch Lawn Bowls, Polo and the Skeet & Trap events of Shooting in the nation’s capital.
Posted by: Jen on 08 Nov 2007, 10:28 -
World Amateur Snooker Championship opens in Korat
This Saturday, Thailand will open the 2007 World Amateur Snooker Championship in Korat, Thailand. The opening ceremony will be held on November 10th and the closing ceremony will take place on November 25th. Participants from 51 countries are scheduled to participate in the cue sports event in Thailand’s north east.
This year, the event comprises three championships: the International Billiard and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Amateur Snooker Championship, the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship (for competitors over the age of 40) and the IBSF World Ladies Snooker Championship.
Hosted by Sangsom, the event is being co-hosted by the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand (BSAT). Twenty referees will oversee the actual competition, flying in from Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania to ensure fair play.
The final hours of the competition will be filmed by True Vision national cable TV network or interested parties can head to the Sima Thani Hotel where players will be billeted and playing.
There is a total of US$16,000 in the Men’s Snooker prize fund. The women will be competing for a prize fund totaling US$6000 and the Masters players have a total prize fund of US$8000.
A total of 104 participants will vie for top prizes in the three categories. In the women’s group, 28 players will compete and in the Masters group, 48 players will participate.
Thailand has taken top place four times in the past, in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995.
Posted by: Jen on 06 Nov 2007, 10:26 -
Results from the Bangkok Open semifinal
The Bangkok Open semifinals were held in Bangkok on Saturday. Italian Flavia Pennetta was matched against American Venus Williams. The Italian beat out the American 6-4, 7-6 (8).
Pennetta’s played an aggressive match and used a remarkable power-serve to stun Williams out of several important points.
"I just want to enjoy this moment," said Pennetta, seeded-seventh. "This is one of my most beautiful wins."
Pennetta’s opponent was seeded second. Penetta played Williams in the semifinal of the Korean Open two weeks ago in Seoul and lost. Williams came out on top, winning 6-2, 6-2.
The final round will pit Penetta against Chan Yung-jan from Taiwan. The Taiwanese player beat China’s Ya Zi in the semi final, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
The WTA professional women’s tennis tour in Bangkok has a total of USD$200,000 available in prizes. Qualifying matches for the event began on October 6th.
Tickets for the finals, being held today, are 500, 800 and 1,000 baht and are available through Thai Ticketmajor. The finals are being held at the National Tennis Development Centre, Muangthong Thani.
Posted by: Jen on 14 Oct 2007, 17:23 -
Thai Team Weak in World Weightlifting Championships
Thailand has been dealt a heavy blow in the World Weightlifting Championships currently being held in Chiang Mai. Local favorite Pawina Thongsuk pulled out of the competition before the start of the tournament last week.
Pawina was one of four female weightlifters who qualified to represent Thailand in the 2004 Athens Olympics. She brought back a gold medal from the event. Since then, Pawina has continued to represent her country at international weightlifting events. She has competed in the 63 kilogram, 69 kilogram and 75 kilogram classes and she participated in the 2006 Asian Games.
Lack of fitness was Pawina’s reason from withdrawing from the current tournament. This is the first time Thailand has hosted the World Championships and many are disappointed that they lack a strong candidate now that Pawina will not compete.
Today is the last day of the competition. So far, Thailand holds three silver medals and two bronzes. Annipa Moontar, participating in the over 75 kilogram category, is Thailand’s last chance for a gold medal.
In addition to Pawina’s withdrawal, the Thai team also experienced a serious injury. Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon failed to win a medal in the 53 kilogram category in which she competed, instead leaving the tournament with an injury which will stop her from competing for the next three months.
Chinese coach Zhang Jia Min Jiaming, who was responsible for training the four female Olympians since Athens had to return home and was not present for the competition, a serious factor in Thailand’s weak performance in the World Championship. Many speculate that he may not return to the Thai team, but may be persuaded to lead Chinese weightlifters to victory.
The World Championships are key to determining how a country will fare at the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing and many doubt that Thailand will be able to repeat their earlier victories, especially without the help of their legendary coach.
Posted by: Jen on 26 Sep 2007, 15:31 -
It’s a weekend for motor sports in Pattaya
This coming weekend of the 18th and 19th of August, the Motor Sport Centre in Pattaya will be hosting the second Pattaya 8 Hour Enduro race. The first attempt to rev up the locals with an Enduro race was tried on earlier this year by Urs Schoenenberger, a German motor sport enthusiast.
With the success of the first trail using only local riders, Schoenenberger has opened the race to international entrants as well as creating a new 8 kilometer circuit for riders to speed through.
For this competition there will be six team categories to keep riders of different ages and abilities on an even keel. There will be a VIP class for those riders over the age of 40, as well as open and lightweight divisions. Each team can have 3 to 4 riders, who must ride for at least 30 minutes in one session, but no more than 60; with the total non-stop race lasting the full 8 hours.
The prizes for the winners will be cash rewards, with 85,000 baht to be shared among the top finishers in each class division, with the total prize pool topping 340,000 baht.
Posted by: DaveB on 23 Aug 2007, 11:35 -
Phuket Marathon to bridge low season gap
This is low season for the Thailand tourist industry. All over the country things are a bit quieter, a bit less hectic and the service is just that little bit quicker. So while low season rates and restaurant table vacancies can be a plus for the traveller, for the industry patrons it is certainly undesirable.
There are a lot of ways to squeeze the few remaining tourists for that little bit of extra money, and it usually manifests as an event of some kind.
The Phuket Marathon took place this weekend, filling what would be otherwise empty hotel rooms with over 1,500 competitors from 40 countries around the world, ready to dart around the island’s northern parts for charity.
Aside form the marathon; a 10-k run will also be held, making the event a little more accessible to everyone. The event is organized by Go Adventure Asia this year, and they’ve encouraged participants to choose a charity to be sponsored by; taking a cue from the London Marathon, where Bt 783 million was raised.
Posted by: DaveB on 21 Jun 2007, 14:40 -
Phuket Marathon
The Laguna Phuket International Marathon is the largest marathon in Southeast Asia. It's being held for the second time this Sunday and is expected to attract 15,000 international runners from 40 different countries. The event focuses on exposing the true beauty of Phuket following the tsunami in 2004.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.phuketmarathon.com or at the event Expo in Phuket on June 15 and 16. The Nation has details of the event.
Posted by: Toony on 15 Jun 2007, 08:40