BANGKOK, Thailand (May 26) - Swimming chief Pipat
Paniengvej revealed that cash incentives will be on offer for home swimmers who
can break national records in the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007 despite the fact
that they are likely to face an uphill task.
Pipat, President of the Amateur Swimming Association of Thailand, said
that the host country will send a strong field of 27 swimmers including 14 men
to the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007 between August 8 and 18. The squad has been
training intensively in preparation for the tough competition.
"The Thai swimmers for the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007 have been training
in different places," said Pipat.
"Up to their travelling convenience, some are training at the SAT's (Sports
Authority of Thailand) Pool, while the others sharpen their skill at Thammasat
Rangsit, Mahidol University and Visutharom Pool inside the National Stadium.
"Despite the fact that our swimmers are competing on home soil in the 24th
Universiade Bangkok 2007, I think it's a rare chance to win any medal in the
star-studded competition. However, we bank our high hopes on Arvuth Chinnapasaen
in the men's 50m freestyle and Thanawat Thanakornvorakiart in the men's 1,500m
freestyle events. If both of them can make it to the finals, it's satisfaction
beyond our expectation.
"The rivals are very much stronger than our swimmers, particularly those from
the United States of America. Therefore, cash incentives are not necessary for
our swimmers since, if I'm not wrong, they cannot match the might of those
strong swimmers and are expected to return empty-handed.
"However, the ASAT are willing to award any Thai swimmers who can break the
national records with the Bt10,000 cash incentives a piece. Although it's not a
large sum of money, the cash incentives will be a financial boost to those who
train hard although they cannot win a single medal from the tournament."
To make the swimming competition more colourful and one of the most-watched
events in the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007, Pipat said that he, as one of the
committee members in the International Swimming Federation (FINA), will try to
make the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007 swimming competition one of the major
events that the FINA will keep their eyes on and select those with excellent
records to win births to compete in the next year's Beijing Olympic Games.
"We (the ASAT) in conjunction with the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007
Organising Committee have already sent a letter to the FINA and inform them
about the topic. Within one month we will learn if the FINA will approve our
requested proposal. I think our proposal to get a FINAL approval is very
possible," Pipat is confident.
A total of 27 Thai swimmers who will compete in the 24th Universiade Bangkok
2007 are as follows.
Men's swimmers (14) : Sanhawat Jaroonsri (Thammasat), Suriya Suksuphak
(Chulalongkorn), Khunakorn Yimsamruay (Bangkok), Khunanon Kittiphut (King
Mongkut's Institute of Technology), Voravudh Amphaiwan (Thammasat), Radomyos
Matchua (Chulalongkorn), Peerapol Wiriyaprakob (Thammasat), Khunnithi Lorsanwal
(Thammasat), Arvudh Chinnapasaen (Kasembundit), Phattarachai Iamkai (Chiangmai),
Thanawat Thanakornvorakiart (Assumption), Suppawat Arunsrimorakot (Kasetsart),
Thanyanant Phadungkiartwattana (Chulalongkorn) and Chanin Rungfah (Assumption).
Women's swimmers (13) : Praew Wiboonsuk (Chiangmai), Nutthanan Chankrajang
(University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce), Chayanin Wangdeetham
(Chulalongkorn), Jirathida Phinyosophon (Bangkok), Thassamol Petchsaengroj
(Bangkok), Panvad Jitpairoj (Bangkok), Parichat Wongpila (Bangkok), Ruethai
Santhadwattana (Rajabhat Suan Dusit), Jariyawadee Narongrit (Bangkok), Pailai
Techakrittheeranan (Bangkok), Jirawan Kladprasit (Chulalongkorn), Nida
Techakrittheeranan (Chulalongkorn) and Suphang Hongsuwan (Thammasat).
A total of 15 sports disciplines will be featured in the 24th Universiade
Bangkok 2007 between August 8 and 18. They comprise athletics, aquatics
(swimming, diving and water polo), basketball, fencing, football, gymnastics,
judo, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, badminton, golf, shooting, softball and
taekwondo, with 236 gold medals in total are at stake. The aquatics event alone
see a total of 53 gold medals on offer consisting of 40 in swimming, 12 in
diving and one gold in water polo.
Public Relations Committee
May 26, 2007
(Source: bangkok2007.com)
