Latvia’s Arturs Dorohous beat a four-time Thai champion while taking two titles at the 9th Pattaya International Arm Wrestling Championship.
The 37-year-old first-time competitor bested Thai champ Ronachai Jitjumnong in the 75-85 kg. class and Malaysian Alex Tiem Siew in the 85 kg. and up class during the internationally sanctioned meet at Royal Garden Plaza Sept. 29.
Latvian Arturs Dorohus, 2nd left, takes on Thailand’s four-time champ Ronachai Jitjumnong in 75-85 kg category final.
The match attracted more than 100 participants, including “Perfect Muscle Men” title-holder Joe Boucher of Canada, Rinku Billa of India and Thai Wittaya Meemui.
The contest adhered to international rules set by the Thailand Arm Wrestling Association. Wrestlers competed in three divisions with the winner of each taking home 50,000 baht and prizes from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, and the Fairtex Sports Complex. Second-place finishers each won 5,000 baht.
Pattaya mayor Ittipol Kunplome, right, tests his arm-wrestling prowess against one of the match referees.
Suthiwas Kohsamut of Samut Sakorn, 21, beat Bangkok’s Rattanachat Kongngern, 30, easily in two sets for the under 75 kg. class. The Latvian won the two other categories while Bangkok’s Rattapol Mukdasanit, 29, won the popularity prize.
Royal Garden manager Somporn Naksuetrong noted that the competition has grown steadily over the years and winners have moved onto the international stage.
Arturs Dorohous, left, and Suthiwas Kohsamut pose with their champion’s trophies.
Somporn Naksuetrong, 3rd right, manager of Royal garden Plaza Pattaya; Passalin Saewarat, assistant director of TAT Pattaya office, 2nd right; and city mayor Ittipol Kunplome, 2nd left, officially launch the 9th Pattaya International Arm Wrestling Championship.
