Thailand’s greatest sports heroes

The “Lords of the Ring” dominate Thailand’s sporting history and this short list of the nation’s most illustrious athletes could easily be comprised entirely of boxers. But let’s not make this too bloody. 

In chronological order, here are our picks for Thailand's five greatest sports heroes...

HRH Prince Birabongse Bhanudej

Prince Birabongse Bhanudej, race car driver

Prince Birabongse Bhanudej is an iconic figure in Thai history. An international jet-setter and high-ranking royal who liked to fly his own planes and married six times, he was most famous as a race car driver in the 1930s, '40s and '50s.

Racing with Maserati, among other teams, he placed as high as second in Grand Prix races in the 1930s under the admiring gaze of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who was then a young prince.

Pone Kingpetch

Pone Kingpetch, flyweight boxer

Pone Kingpetch did what his famous predecessor, bantamweight boxer of the 1950s Chamroen Songkitrat, could not achieve in several attempts. The flyweight won a world title fight (in 1960), becoming Thailand’s first international belt holder.

Taking a 15-round split decision over Argentine Pascual Perez in Bangkok, with their majesties the King and Queen of Thailand in attendance, Pone went on to defend his title later that year in Los Angeles. A statue in Hua Hin commemorates this groundbreaking Thai athlete.

Khaosai Galaxy

Khaosai Galaxy, "the Thai Tyson"

Khaosai Galaxy, aka "The Thai Tyson," not only boasted a cool name but packed a devastating left that kept him undefeated throughout his career. Considered by boxing experts one of the greatest fighters of all time and a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the former Muay Thai fighter defended his title 19 times, 16 by knockout, earning him the nickname “the Thai Tyson”.

When his twin brother Khaokor won the title in 1988, they became the first twins to hold international belts. Khao Sai retired in 1991 as arguably Thailand’s greatest-ever athlete.

James Wattana

James Wattana, snooker phenom

In 1986, the snooker world was turned upside-down when a skinny 16-year-old defeated all comers to win a major tournament. This teen phenom, James Wattana -- aka the Thai Tornado -- excelled at a sport that was not particularly popular in his native land.

However, Wattana’s virtuosity on the felt was significant internationally as he broke the British’s dominance of the game, rising as high as No. 3 in the world rankings. 

Udomporn Polsak

Udomporn Polsak, Olympic weightlifter

Thailand’s first female Olympic champion, the powerful little lady from northeast Thailand defied traditional stereotypes of Thai women by taking gold in, of all sports, weightlifting. Winning a gold medal in the 53kg category and looking graceful all the while, Udomporn Polsak immediately became a national hero.

Days later Pavina Thongsuk also took gold in weightlifting, showing that when it comes to sport, Thai athletes can be tough as nails.  

Five other greats who just missed the cut

- Track star Suchart Jaesuraparp, Asia’s fastest man for many years during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Paradorn Srichapan, who rocketed up the tennis rankings in the 2000s, taking his first ATP title in 2002.  
- Thailand’s first-ever Olympic champion, Somluck Kamsing, took gold in Atlanta in 1996. If only he wasn’t a boxer…
- Pro golfer Thongchai Jaidee holds the record for most career victories on the Asian Tour.
- Football player Kiatisuk "Zico" Senamuang has made more appearances for Thailand than any other player, and is the first Thai to play in Europe, albeit on a failed stint with a small English team.