Latest news with #BanthongyordBadmintonSchool
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Bangchak Celebrates Thailand's Badminton World No.1
Marking a historic milestone for Thai sport, Bangchak Group recently celebrated the achievement of 'View' Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the first Thai male badminton player to attain the World No. 1 ranking in men's singles. The celebratory event, titled 'Road to Number One – Together We Stand Strong', took place at Bangchak Headquarters at M Tower, honouring his outstanding success and dedication. On 4 July 2025, Mr Chaiwat Kovavisarach, Group Chief Executive Officer and President of Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited, joined Bangchak Group executives and employees in congratulating Kunlavut. Also present were 'May' Ratchanok Intanon, Thailand's former women's singles World No. 1 in 2016, and 'Coach Pae' Phattaphon Ngernsrisuk, Director of Banthongyord Badminton School and a key figure behind the success of both athletes. Mr Chaiwat extended his heartfelt congratulations and presented Bangchak Hi Premium cash cards and commemorative gifts to Kunlavut. In addition, he offered fuel cards and gifts to Ratchanok and a commemorative token of appreciation to Coach Phattaphon. Bangchak Group, a proud supporter of Banthongyord Badminton School for over a decade, remains committed to empowering Thai athletes and promoting the sustainable development of sports in Thailand. As part of the 'Road to Number One' programme, Mrs Gloyta Nathalang, Senior Executive Vice President, Sustainability Management and Corporate Communications, hosted an inspiring conversation with Coach Phattaphon, Ratchanok, and Kunlavut. They shared insights into their athletic journeys, from early beginnings and intensive training to sources of inspiration and perseverance through adversity, highlighting their growth both on and off the court. The session concluded with a warm and engaging atmosphere as Bangchak employees joined in a souvenir giveaway from Banthongyord, took photos with their favourite athletes, and shared in the collective joy and positive energy. Looking ahead, Kunlavut and Ratchanok will represent Thailand at the upcoming Japan Open 2025, a major World Tour event set to take place from 15–20 July in Tokyo. Bangchak Group encourages everyone to continue supporting Thai athletes – with the enduring belief that 'Together We Stand Strong.'
New Straits Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Rashid: Thailand may beat Malaysia to first Olympic badminton gold
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Rashid Sidek believes Thailand are emerging as a major force in world badminton and could well produce their first Olympic gold medallist at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The former world No. 1, who recently led the Malaysian Universities team to Bangkok for a series of friendly matches, said Thailand's rise is no fluke. It's the result of a thriving club system that has been developing talent for more than 15 years. "Thailand's success didn't happen overnight," said Rashid. "They've been building steadily, and now it's paying off." Thailand's badminton success is largely credited to its clubs, particularly the Banthongyord Badminton School, run by former international Patapol Ngernsrisuk. Ratchanok Intanon, Thailand's first world champion, emerged from this system in 2013. Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the reigning world No. 1 in men's singles, won the 2023 World Championship — the first Thai male to do so. In 2021, Decapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai won Thailand's first mixed doubles world title, and the frmer is now building a strong partnership with Supissara Paewsampran heading towards LA 2028. Rashid admitted that Malaysia's neighbours may now have the upper hand. "It won't be surprising if Thailand beat us to Olympic gold in LA," he said. "We have our strengths, but Thailand are now producing quality players regularly, and their club system is the reason. "Kunlavut and Ratchanok came through club training. In Thailand, badminton is not dependent on the national body. Clubs run full-fledged development programmes, starting as young as Under-10." Rashid likened Thailand's model to Japan's decentralised approach, where players train primarily at clubs and only join national camps occasionally. "Thailand already have multiple world champions. They're consistent and capable of winning Olympic gold. Even Taiwan, who also rely on a strong club system, have won two Olympic golds in badminton," said Rashid. In contrast, he warned that Malaysia's talent pool is shrinking, and an over-reliance on the BA of Malaysia (BAM) could prove risky. "We can't depend solely on BAM anymore. Our clubs need to grow and have full-time training programmes, just like in Thailand," he said. The Malaysian Universities team are already taking steps in that direction, working closely with leading Thai clubs like the Boonsak Ponsana Badminton School, T-Thailand, and SBU Jele, all coached by former internationals.
Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn has a bright ‘View' for the future
Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn after winning against Denmark's Anders Antonsen at the Thailand Open in Bangkok, on May 18. PHOTO: AFP SINGAPORE – Known for his tenacity and toughness in rallies, Thai badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn's famed defensive skills are rooted in an act of rebellion. Laughing as he recounted the story, the men's singles world No. 2 told The Straits Times: 'When I was young, my coach told me to always attack. But I thought I would use up a lot of my power and tire easily if I keep attacking; if I could defend well and counter attack, that would save me energy. 'This was my own understanding, and it worked for some time.' Nicknamed View by his parents, things could have worked out differently for him as he was a sickly child who never envisioned he would become the badminton world champion and Olympic medallist he is today. He said: 'When I was young, I didn't look too much into the future because my father would take me to the hospital almost every day because of allergies. 'I was told to play sports to strengthen my body, and that was enough for me. 'When I was around seven years' old, my uncle took me to play golf, while my father, who is a badminton coach, taught me to play badminton. In the end, I chose badminton because I felt standing and swinging at golf balls was not as fun as running around and jumping to hit shuttlecocks.' His appetite for success was whetted when he won his first medal in a local junior badminton competition at eight. 'That was when I started to think more about my future and I wanted to try everything to become better in badminton,' said Kunlavut. When he saw Ratchanok Intanon, then 18, create history in 2013 by becoming Thailand's first badminton world champion and the youngest singles world champion, he decided to join the Banthongyord Badminton School where she had trained at. Incredibly, Kunlavut managed to follow in her footsteps when he became the first Thai to win the World Junior Championships boys' singles title three times from 2017 to 2019 – Ratchanok had achieved the same feat in the girls' singles from 2009 to 2011. He continued to excel at the senior level, although he insisted it was not that straightforward as he faced 'older, more experienced, and much better players'. He said: 'If something didn't work during the tournament, or if I wasn't good enough in some areas, I would go back to training and keep trying even harder. But it was also very difficult to train then (during the transition to senior level) during the Covid-19 pandemic.' In 2022, he became the SEA Games champion and won silver at the world championships, before upgrading it to a gold in 2023. But after becoming world champion, he realised he had to evolve and vary his game to do well at the Olympics. He said: 'Many players understand better how I play, which makes it very difficult and stressful to play my usual defensive game. I had to become more attacking and smash more to be better than I used to be, and it worked again.' Already nicknamed the Marathon Man and Three-Game God for his clutch performance in deciders – he has won nine of 10 three-game encounters in 2025 – Kunlavut has become more clinical in his attacks. At just 24, his CV includes a silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the Asian title in 2025. Following the high-profile results, he has earned more than US$500,000 (S$645,000) in prize money, and his image is plastered on billboards across Bangkok for sponsors such as Visa and Toyota. At the ongoing KFF Singapore Open, he beat China's 33rd-ranked Wang Zhengxing 21-8, 21-17 to advance to the quarter-finals, where he will meet Malaysia's 25th-ranked Leong Jun Hao at the Indoor Stadium. When asked about his future goals, Kunlavut drew on his rebellious past – he wants to break his stubborn losing streak at the prestigious All England Open. He said: 'Since young, I had three dreams -– to be world champion, Olympic champion and All England Open champion. World No. 1, not at all. If I get it, okay. But if not, it's okay. 'Somehow the All England is way more difficult to win than the world championships or Olympics. From 2020, I have lost in the first or second round every year. I hope to change that soon. 'Also, badminton is still not as famous in Thailand as other sports like football, volleyball and muay thai. I hope through the success of Thai players, we will see more people in Thailand start to play badminton, and more juniors develop into top players.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
