Latest sporting disgrace reflects deeper problems: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Latest sporting disgrace reflects deeper problems
The Nation


Bodin Issara lunges at his ex-partner Maneepong Jongjit during the Canada Open men's doubles badminton final in Vancouver on July 21. [Montreal Gazette]

The ugly sight of Thai badminton players assaulting each other during an international competition reflects a wider malaise in our society

BANGKOK: -- It's not uncommon to see sportsmen losing their temper and assaulting one another. Violence involving players from the same team or the same nation is rarer. Even more unusual is former playing-partners attacking each other at an international tournament. There can't be too many disgraces worse than that.

The Thai badminton players who shamed their country during a tournament in Canada have few excuses - and the governing authorities have few options in responding. The two men faced off in the doubles final, a match-up that initially seemed to reflect how far Thai badminton had come. But it fast degenerated into a huge embarrassment for the Kingdom. The two players kept taunting one another, and the provocation - mutual, according to preliminary reports - ended in a physical fight.

One side won the match by default. The other made a public apology, saying it took responsibility for the mayhem while still suggesting its rival shared the blame. Who won and who apologised didn't matter, though. People who witnessed the incident or saw the video online might not remember the names. What hit viewers right between the eyes was a shameful scene of top-level athletes from the same nation engaged in violence they cooked up themselves.

What happens now? A ban from the national team, or self-banishment, is the likely possibility. The Thai badminton association has a bigger task at hand. The incident has exposed shortcomings in a sport where good news often overshadows what goes on underneath. Thailand's badminton players have made quite a name for themselves, but probably at the expense of friendship, whose value cannot be measured in terms of glory or commercial success.

Maneepong Jongjit and Bodin Issara used to be good friends and were great doubles partners, succeeding at the international level. There are various stories as to why they drifted apart, but nothing justifies what happened in Vancouver. Nothing that has happened between them can justify the infamy that was displayed before an international audience and is available for all to witness on the Internet.

The punishment issue aside, there are other things to consider as far as Thai sports development is concerned. Our athletes have excelled at sports that tend to feature provocation. Sepak takraw comes to mind. Players taunting opponents when points are won or lost or mistakes are made is deemed a "colourful" part of the game, a cultural tradition, even. What we need to ask ourselves is this: Are our young athletes really mature enough to handle the provocative aspect?

Badminton and sepak takraw are non-contact sports. That our top badminton players managed to hit each other during the final of the competition in Canada might illustrate the state of sports development in Thailand, especially where ethics and sportsmanship are concerned. It's certainly no coincidence that, in soccer, for instance, Thailand's reputation when it comes to sportsmanship is hardly outstanding.

The largely glorious development of Thai badminton has suffered a big dent. The question "why" is perhaps not as important as the question "what now?" Maneepong and Bodin may have personal issues, but anyone who's seen the video of what happened must agree that they have taken their personal dispute too far. What needs to be done must involve not just the two of them, because such immaturity at the personal level often reflects a far wider and deeper problem.


-- The Nation 2013-07-27

[chooka]

Is this the Thainess that P.M Yingluk wants to promote abroad. Lucky they weren't allowed to take their guns with them.

[wellred]

Professional sportsmen are human too.

[NongKhaiKid]

Is this the Thainess that P.M Yingluk wants to promote abroad. Lucky they weren't allowed to take their guns with them.

and in Thainess here the hit tv programme " Hormones " will be downplaying the behavior of teenage students that's common everywhere because it's not good for other teenagers to see.

The badminton incident was on an international stage so harder to ignore.

[NongKhaiKid]

Professional sportsmen are human too.

I'm sure there could be suggestions though as to some who have difficulty remembering their own name and address.

[Thai at Heart]

It shows that people sometimes have very thin skin and see little shame about reacting with violence over a tiny personal issue.

[Rimmer]

Personal attack on another member removed also the quoted replies

[boomerangutang]

Thai women can blow up as quickly and as intensely as men. If it had been two Thai women, it would have been accentuated by fire-alarm loud screaming.

[noitom]

The real disgrace is how Thai coaches and managers were powerless to stop the chasing and running and to step in between quickly. They did nothing as is customary in Thailand.

[glegolo]

The real disgrace is how Thai coaches and managers were powerless to stop the chasing and running and to step in between quickly. They did nothing as is customary in Thailand.

Yes, you are fully correct. Must be a real big problem in Thailand... Losing face aspect I mean... Coaches sits there

doing nothing, never goes in between problem and sort them out......Disgraceful really...

Glegolo

[seminomadic]

There was ONE GUY assaulting another. They were not "assaulting one another". It was not mutual. One dude went after the other and punched and kicked him when he was down and covering up. Regardless of the fact that he likely said something to set the guy off, whether his playing skill, his cute little single pig-tail he donned or how chunky his mama is, the Bodin guy ATTACKED. The other dude RAN AWAY and did NOT fight back.... maybe a disgrace in its own right, but he did what he could to avoid violence all the same.

I agree with Noitom, the coaches were pathetic. They should share blame and punishment for not doing more to stop the attack. The Maneepong guy should suffer no reprimand or punishment at all as he was not the aggressor and any attempt to punish him for any taunting that might have happened is welcoming the thought police into sports which is fncking ridiculous.

[kirk0233]

The real disgrace is how Thai coaches and managers were powerless to stop the chasing and running and to step in between quickly. They did nothing as is customary in Thailand.

Yes, you are fully correct. Must be a real big problem in Thailand... Losing face aspect I mean... Coaches sits there

doing nothing, never goes in between problem and sort them out......Disgraceful really...

Glegolo

Perhaps the coach knows what some unfortunate foreigner has learned, if you interfere in a fight between Thais, you might end up a victim as well

[glegolo]

The real disgrace is how Thai coaches and managers were powerless to stop the chasing and running and to step in between quickly. They did nothing as is customary in Thailand.

Yes, you are fully correct. Must be a real big problem in Thailand... Losing face aspect I mean... Coaches sits there

doing nothing, never goes in between problem and sort them out......Disgraceful really...

Glegolo

Perhaps the coach knows what some unfortunate foreigner has learned, if you interfere in a fight between Thais, you might end up a victim as well

Yes maybe you are right. But by that interference by the couch, at least these idiots should be aware that behaviour like this results only in one thing only and that is... drop out of the competition and face another result at home... such as being thrown out of the national team for a starter.

Thai´s must learn that there is always something in life that will haunt you if you behave like an idiot........

Glegolo

[overherebc]

Thai women can blow up as quickly and as intensely as men. If it had been two Thai women, it would have been accentuated by fire-alarm loud screaming.

True, but much more of a spectator sport.

[GentlemanJim]

There was ONE GUY assaulting another. They were not "assaulting one another". It was not mutual. One dude went after the other and punched and kicked him when he was down and covering up. Regardless of the fact that he likely said something to set the guy off, whether his playing skill, his cute little single pig-tail he donned or how chunky his mama is, the Bodin guy ATTACKED. The other dude RAN AWAY and did NOT fight back.... maybe a disgrace in its own right, but he did what he could to avoid violence all the same.

I agree with Noitom, the coaches were pathetic. They should share blame and punishment for not doing more to stop the attack. The Maneepong guy should suffer no reprimand or punishment at all as he was not the aggressor and any attempt to punish him for any taunting that might have happened is welcoming the thought police into sports which is fncking ridiculous.

Spot on! First thing I thought as I was reading the article.

[johnlandy]

Professional sportsmen are human too.

I'm sure there could be suggestions though as to some who have difficulty remembering their own name and address.

Well no surprise to anyone I'm sure but it's (the incident) is par for the course and the only ones to disagree must have just come through 'arrivals' in the last 30 minutes for their first ever visit.

Either that or they are slow learners

[Just1Voice]

Well, if the attacker is banned from Badminton, he might try his luck in the light light weight division of MMA.

[Always18]

Thai adults with the emotional maturity of 13yr olds...........................nothing new to see here - move along please...........

[SOTIRIOS]

...misplaced nationalistic fervor....haven't you noticed.....

[boomerangutang]

I agree that the attacker is the one to blame. The other was running from being attacked, plain and simple.

Yet, from a Thai perspective, rife with excuses, there will probably be disciplinary action taken against both athletes.

[HughJass]

lucky the victim was wearing his amulet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUb0vkHBpCg

[amykat]

Is there some reason why the attacker wasn't arrested for this in Canada?? This looks like a pretty serious beating ...are sporting events exempt from the laws or something??

Anyone know?

[winstonc]

im just amazed he didnt fone 12 friends to help him first..........first real thai man ive ever seen......

[pedro01]

Is this the Thainess that P.M Yingluk wants to promote abroad. Lucky they weren't allowed to take their guns with them.

The wife and I chatted about this last night over a game of pool.

She said that the guys made Thailand look bad. So I asked her if she thought this was abnormal behaviour for Thais. She thought about it and had a little chuckle at that.

Then I explained Yinglucks "Thainess" thing and we both agreed these young gentlemen had done a sterling job...

[Baerboxer]

Is there some reason why the attacker wasn't arrested for this in Canada?? This looks like a pretty serious beating ...are sporting events exempt from the laws or something??

Anyone know?

I asked the same question when this subject was first posted. The assault was quite viscious. Sport players do not enjoy immunity from the laws of the country they are playing in. So what happend to the RCMP or whatever?

I'm sure this guy would have been arrested for a similar incident in the UK.

[antfish]

I agree that the attacker is the one to blame. The other was running from being attacked, plain and simple.

Yet, from a Thai perspective, rife with excuses, there will probably be disciplinary action taken against both athletes.

Actually the one who was running away attacked first the other guy first.

[pisico]

Yes maybe you are right. But by that interference by the couch, at least these idiots should be aware that behaviour like this results only in one thing only and that is... drop out of the competition and face another result at home... such as being thrown out of the national team for a starter.

Yes, you are fully correct. Must be a real big problem in Thailand... Losing face aspect I mean... Coaches sits there

The real disgrace is how Thai coaches and managers were powerless to stop the chasing and running and to step in between quickly. They did nothing as is customary in Thailand.

doing nothing, never goes in between problem and sort them out......Disgraceful really...

Glegolo

Perhaps the coach knows what some unfortunate foreigner has learned, if you interfere in a fight between Thais, you might end up a victim as well

Thai´s must learn that there is always something in life that will haunt you if you behave like an idiot........

Glegolo

Not likely. They believe in rebirth and/or reincarnation so... in their minds, buying enough merits cleans the slate while in this life. They see no need to exercise personally responsibility. The idea of accountability is alien to the culture.

Anything wrong a Thai person does always, always has an explanation which tends to exonerate the culprit by "understanding" the reasons that drove the culprit to do the bad deed.

Three Thai friends, all of university level education, separately expressed this latter idea. They saw nothing wrong in the aggression once it was deemed to be an "accident".

Farang will never be able to understand Thainess...

[pisico]

Yes maybe you are right. But by that interference by the couch, at least these idiots should be aware that behaviour like this results only in one thing only and that is... drop out of the competition and face another result at home... such as being thrown out of the national team for a starter.

Yes, you are fully correct. Must be a real big problem in Thailand... Losing face aspect I mean... Coaches sits there

The real disgrace is how Thai coaches and managers were powerless to stop the chasing and running and to step in between quickly. They did nothing as is customary in Thailand.

doing nothing, never goes in between problem and sort them out......Disgraceful really...

Glegolo

Perhaps the coach knows what some unfortunate foreigner has learned, if you interfere in a fight between Thais, you might end up a victim as well

Thai´s must learn that there is always something in life that will haunt you if you behave like an idiot........

Glegolo

Not likely. They believe in rebirth and/or reincarnation so... in their minds, buying enough merits cleans the slate while in this life. They see no need to exercise personally responsibility. The idea of accountability is alien to the culture.

Anything wrong a Thai person does always, always has an explanation which tends to exonerate the culprit by "understanding" the reasons that drove the culprit to do the bad deed.

Three Thai friends, all of university level education, separately expressed this latter idea. They saw nothing wrong in the aggression once it was deemed to be an "accident".

Farang will never be able to understand Thainess...

[angsta]

Is this the Thainess that P.M Yingluk wants to promote abroad. Lucky they weren't allowed to take their guns with them.

This is her fault is it? Surely you should blame Thaksin or maybe the poor of Issan for voting her in?

Go home.

[wotaplonker]

and all because someone hid a shuttle cock