Sport
Undoubtedly the most famous Thai sport is Muay Thai,
which is Thailand’s unique version of boxing. This sport,
which originated in Thailand, is a type of martial art
and is now practiced in countries all over the world.
Known as The Art of the Eight Limbs, Muay Thai is Thailand’s
national sport. Unlike Western boxing, in Muay Thai the
hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively.
The origins of Muay Thai come from Muay Boran (ancient
boxing), which was the type of unarmed combat used by
Siamese soldiers hundreds of years ago. Muay Thai has
been practiced as a sport in its own right for centuries,
and in fact the first written documents describing the
Muay Thai appeared in Chiang Mai around the start of the
15th century. There are many strict rules governing public
Muay Thai matches. For example, only boxing shorts are
permitted to be worn, and the colour depends on which
corner the fighter is in; red, pink, or maroon or with
a red stripe for the red corner; blue, bright blue, black
for the blue corner. Long hair and/or beards are prohibited
and amulets can only be worn on the arm or waist and covered
by material. Both fighters perform the Wai Kru (paying
respect to the teacher) before the start of the first
round, and a special dance called Ram Muay (accompanied
by the appropriate Thai traditional music. A Muay Thai
matches last for five rounds; 3 minutes per round with
a 2 minute break between each round. Muay Thai matches
can be scene all over Thailand, especially in tourist
areas, where small rings are often set up in go-go bars.
A great place to enjoy a match is Lumpini Stadium, where
matches are generally of a very professional level. Another
uniquely Thai sport is takraw which is very similar to
volleyball except that it uses an odd looking rattan ball
and players are allowed to touch the ball using their
feet, knees, chest and head. Groups of people (usually
boys and young men) can be seen in the streets all over
Thailand playing this highly addictive and entertaining
sport. There are even murals at Wat Phra Kaew that show
the Hindu god Hanuman playing takraw in a ring with a
troop of monkeys. All you need to play is a special rattan
ball, a net and an area of roughly 13 m x 6 meters free
from all obstacles. Football is naturally very popular
in Thailand and many people worship teams from the English
Premier League such as Manchester United, Chelsea and
Arsenal. Thailand also has it’s own Thai League. Golf
is also very popular.
Thailand
Northern Thailnd
Chiang Mai
| Chiang Rai
| Mae Hong Son | Sukhothai | Lumpang | Petchaboon | Phitsanulok
| Tak North
North Eastern Thailand
Khon Khen | Buriram | Loei | Nakhon Ratchasima | Nong
Khai | Nakhon Phanom | Ubon | Ratchthani |
Udon Thani | Uthai Thani
Eastern Thailand
Pattaya | Chonburi | Rayong | Trat
Central Thailand
Bangkok |
Ayutthaya | Sukothai | Kanchanaburi | Phetchaburi
| Prachuap | Khiri Khan | Lop Buri | Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon
Pathom | Ratchaburi | Samutprakarn
Southern Thailand
Koh Samet \ Phuket \ Krabi \ Phang-Nga Phuket \ Ranong
\ Songkhla \ Surat Thani \ Trang \ Chumphon \ Nakhon Si
Thammarat \ Narathiwat
