Rio gold hopes boosted by better prepared athletes: SAT
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) is eyeing at least one gold medal from next month’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics, after Thai athletes returned home from the last Games with just two silvers and a bronze.
SAT deputy governor Nattavuth Ruengves said the 51 Thai athletes from 16 sports associations could redeem national pride at the August sports extravaganza after failing to strike gold at the London Games four years ago.
Hailing the best preparation ever for athletes, Nattavuth said Thailand was, as ever, strongest in boxing, weightlifting and taekwondo but medal hopes were also high in badminton, skeet and trap, and golf. An estimated Bt23 million has been spent to prepare national athletes for the Rio competition.
“For the first time, we have sent our authorities to look after national Olympic athletes closely. We implemented the most intensive sports science programme ever to ensure that our athletes remain in great shape and observe proper diets,” he said.
“We have also sent our physios and psychologists to work with the athletes closely. The result is that we have athletes who have been performing incredibly well in three sports we had never been strong in before this year,” said Nattavuth, referฌring to world No 1 badminton player Ratchanok Intanon, world No 1 skeet shooter Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit and world No 7 golfer Ariya Jutanugarn, who won three straight LPGA titles in May. Nattavuth said that many of the Thai Olympians had excelled in SAT fitness tests, adding that the delegation was undergoing vaccinations to protect them from illness in Rio.
In Rio, the athletes will be able to seek medical help and training advice at Thai House, located just three kilometres from the Athletes Village. The Thai House menu has been taken care of by CP, while True will hand out sim cards so the athletes can stay in touch with loved ones back home.
Nattavuth said that the National Sports Development Funds Committee was considering about raising the financial incentive for a gold medal from Bt10 million to Bt12 million. The rates for silver and bronze will remain at Bt6 million and Bt4 million. The committee will announce its decision on July 27.
