Phuket fighters score gold at national youth games

PHUKET: Youngsters from Phuket won gold in seven competitions at the 31st National Youth Games, held in Chanthaburi last week.

Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, president of Phuket Sports Association of Thailand Phuket office, was proud of the squad’s performance, especially in the martial arts events.

“Phuket won 39 medals this year: 7 gold, 10 silver and 22 bronze. Now Phuket is ranked 18th in the country for youth sports, and second in all of Southern Thailand.”

Mr Thammawat also praised those who supported the squad.

“We had athletes competing in 18 different events, and a total of 204 people from Phuket as coaches, parents and staffers from the Sport Association of Phuket to support them.”

Phuket fighters performed especially well at the games, which began on March 16.

Among them was 14-year-old Nuchit “Nong Team” Rukyat from Kajonkiet School, who won gold in the taekwondo under-59kg division.

Kittiwin Meeyuda won gold in the taekwondo boys under-48kg competition, and Pattomporn Jaijan won gold in the jujitsu boys 46-50kg class.

Phuket also students shone in the jujutsu duo tournaments. Pornpavina Chuepu and Thammanit Saekow won gold in the Duo-Mix competition; Chanidapa Seangeng and Pornpavina Chuepu scoring gold in the Duo-Girls comp; and Jeerapat Bootchuay and Thammanit Saekow winning gold in the Duo-Boys division.

Meanwhile, card players Adisorn Sungla, Halma Kaviset and Vasin Pongngamchai won gold for Phuket in the mixed Bridge competition.

“I am happy with our results this year; we won more medals than last year,” Mr Thammawat said.

“And we will do our best to train our players to win even more medals for Phuket next year.”

— Kongleaphy Keam