Top local sports news in 2017

On the last day of 2017, The Nation looks back at the top five stories of the year.

 National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda and Thai football boss Somyot Poompanmoung

Match-fixing shame exposed

In the most groundbreaking sports event of 2017, the first serious crackdown on match-fixing in the Thai history was launched in November through a collaboration between National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda, Thai football boss Somyot Poompanmoung and Sportradar, a Swiss sports data company. 
Twelve men, including five players - four from Thai Navy and one from Nakhon Ratchasima Mazda FC – were each allegedly paid as much as Bt200,000 to manipulate results in their Thai League games between July and September.  
A director of Sisaket FC, Chedsak Boonchu, and Fifa referee Poomrin Khamruen were also implicated in the scandal.
Somyot vowed more names would be revealed soon and hinted that certain key figures in the previous administration of the Football Association of Thailand were also believed to be involved in match-fixing.

  Srisaket regains world crown

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai registered his name in the country’s boxing history as he became only the second Thai to win a world title on American soil following his majority decision 3-0 victory over Nicaragua’s Roman Gonzalez to reclaim the World Boxing Council super flyweight title at Madison Square Garden in March. The Si Sa Ket native handed  the Nicaraguan his first professional fight defeat to become the second Thai fighter after Saman Sorjaturong to win the world championship of the sport’s three major organisations in the United States.
Four months later, the 31-year-old Southpaw stamped his authority over Gonzalez by knocking out the rival in the fourth round at the StubHub Centre in California. He will next defend his title in a match with Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico in February in California.

 

Kiatisak quits national team

The resignation of Kiatisak Senamuang from the national football team on March 31 was predictable but still attracted huge attention around the country. His decision to quit the team came after a disastrous World Cup qualification campaign, with six defeats from seven third-round group matches. What a turnaround for the man who made a huge impact in Thai football scene. During his time in charge Kiatisak had since 2013 helped revive soccer fever among fans by helping Thailand to finish fourth at the 2014 Asian Games, won the Asean Football Championship in the same year and won the World Cup Qualifiers second round group stage in 2015. He was replaced by Milovan Rajevac, who signed a one-year deal with the Football Association of Thailand.  

Ariya becomes world No 1

After making history by becoming the first Thai to win on the LPGA Tour in Alabama in May 2016 and then the first Thai to win a Major at the British Open last year, Ariya Jutanugarn further enhanced her portfolio by ascending to the No 1 throne in June this year following her win in the Manulife LPGA Classic in Ontario. 
That made her the first Thai in history to sit atop the LPGA Tour. 
However, after reaching the summit she slumped and missed six cuts out of her next eight events. 
Happily, she then bounced back, redeeming herself by winning the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship for her seventh LPGA title  in November. Ariya ended the year as world No 6 with sister Moriya down at 22.

 

 
Giant achievement by Chanathip

The diminutive Chanathip Songkrasin caused a stir in Thai football by making his debut for Consadole Sapporo, thus becoming the first Thai ever to play professionally in the J-League. The 24-year-old striker from SCG Muanthong United signed on an 18-month loan deal and so far has played in 16 matches in his first six months. Although he has yet to score a goal, Chanathip helped Sapporo to finish 11th in the table,  the team’s best position in 19 years.