A press conference was held on July 3 at the Kura Serf Restaurant in Jomtien to officially welcome home and congratulate the successful Thai windsurfing team that garnered 3 medals at the recent Asian Beach Games held in Hai-yang, China, from June 16-23.
Heading the welcoming committee was Pattaya Mayor Ittipol Kunplome, who also doubles up as the President of the Thailand Windsurf Association, along with Sonthaya Khunplome, President of the Chonburi Sports Association, who presented cash bonuses to the successful young sailors.
Pattaya Mayor Ittipol Kunplome, President of Thailand Windsurf Association, and Sonthaya Khunplome, President of Chonburi Sports Association, seated center, chair the welcoming committee for the successful Thai windsurfers, standing rear.
Nawin Singhsart won the silver medal in Male Big Techno category in China ahead of compatriot and teammate Nattapong Pothinparat who took the bronze. Meanwhile, Siriporn Kaewduangngam claimed a well deserved silver medal in the Female Big Techno category 293 Division.
The two silver medalists were rewarded for their efforts with cash bonuses of 20,000 baht each while Pothinparat received 15,000 for his bronze.
The Olympic Games begin in England next weekend with the windsurfing event taking place in Weymouth, Dorset, on the south coast. Thailand is sending representatives Aek Bunsawat to compete in RSX Male and Napalai Thansai in RSX Female divisions with both sailors confident of putting on a good performance against the world’s best.
Local windsurfing star Aek Bunsawat will be representing Thailand at the 2012 Summer Olympics in England.
Bunsawat, a former student from Garden International School (GIS), qualified after a fantastic performance at the 2012 RS:X World Windsurfing Championships in Spain. He finished 57th in the Men’s RS:X after four races. Both Bunsawat and Thansai departed for England on July 10 to give them time to acclimatise to the testing wind and sea conditions at the competition venue.
Siriporn Kaewduangngam, meanwhile, is currently in Dublin, Ireland taking part in the ISAF Youth World 2012 championships which are due to end July 21.
