Thai sailors virtually swept the board at the Jan. 10-12 Pattaya International Windsurfing Competition held at Jomtien beach, capitalizing on a greatly weakened field caused by the withdrawal of five of seven competing countries due to continuing political protests in Bangkok.
Only three of 24 trophies went to non-Thais: Ngen Ang from Myanmar who took third place in the Techno 293 Open, and and Park Jun Soo of South Korea, who took third in both the Minstral One Design Open and RS:X Men’s final.
Pattaya city advisor Suchart Khunjeng (right) presents the RS:X Women winner’s trophy to Sarocha Phumphai.
Only 60 athletes from Thailand, Myanmar and South Korea were present when the Windsurfing Association of Thailand contest closed Jan. 12. Surfers from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore and Sri Lanka dropped out in the days leading up to the three-day meet.
Thanthip Suebyubol was the winner of the Techno 293 Open class.
The event proved to be little competition for a Thai team that had hoped to use the match to prepare for the Youth Olympics in China and ASEAN Games in South Korea.
The championship was divided into eight divisions consisting of Beginner, Slalom B, Slalom A, Phantom 295, Techno 293 Open, Mistral One Design Open, RS:X Women and RS:X Men.
Windsurfing champs hold their trophies aloft following the prize-giving ceremony on Jan. 12 at Jomtien beach.
The only real drama developed in the RS:X Women’s race, where Youth Olympics Games 2010 champ Siriporn Kaewduang-ngam lost by a point to teammate Sarocha Phumphai.
Windsurfers are seen competing during the 2014 Pattaya International Windsurfing tournament.
The other overall champions were Nattasruangthon Khakhay in the beginner’s division, Chantho Dumrongkul in Slalom B, Watcharapong Janthum in Slalom A, Nawin Singhsat in Phantom 295, Thanthip Suebyubol (Techno 293 Open), Nattapong Photnopparat (Mistral One Design Open) and Ek Bunsawat (RS:X Men’s).
