Professional sports have long been a male-dominated arena. Both regionally and globally, this prevailing domination of the playing field by men disadvantages women and girls from media to participation. A European Union study of five countries found the percentage of media coverage for women’s professional sports was, at best, 14 percent, and, at worst, as low as 2 percent.

 

Regarding the world’s children, in some countries before the COVID-19 pandemic, 90 percent of girls were insufficiently physically active, with rates recently worsening. Gender inequality in sports – whether at school or at the professional level – is indeed deeply rooted. This inequality is a symptom of a broader social condition where women’s pursuits are undervalued across many currently male-dominated fields.

 

But Thailand is bucking the trend impressively. For starters, Thailand has a rich history of producing world-class athletes, and recently, Thai women in sports have been dominating both regional and global headlines. In 2017, Atthaya Thitikul had the distinction, at the age of 14, to become the youngest-ever winner of a professional golf tournament at the Ladies European Thailand Championship. Then there was Panipak Wongpattanakit, who won Thailand’s only gold medal in taekwondo at the last Summer Olympics (Tokyo 2020) – a first for Thailand. And only weeks ago, Nutcharut (Mink) Wongharuthai became the first Thai woman to be ranked number one in the world in women’s snooker.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/models-of-integrity-why-thailand-needs-more-women-sports-stars/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2023-03-07

 

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Thailand has a history of world class athletes? This article was published 24 days too early. 

Thai women made it to the world cup, didn't they? I seem to recall they were privately sponsored.... Got slaughtered, but better than Thai men who've never been there, unless as spectators. But the money and adverts go to the men. Have any of them ever been on a reputable European team? Just curious...