Traditional Thai Sports.
Sports havybeen an integral part of Thai life since the earliest days of the kingdom.
 While su ' dein forms of recreation as golf, tennis, water-skiing, and
wind-surfing have been 'eagerly" a ed; the older pleasures have not been
forgotten; indeed, even in sophisticated centres like‘ ' pokey continue
to exert a strong appeal among old and young alike.
Thai style boxing
for example, origi- use almost every part of their body except the
nated in Ayutkiya five centuries ago, yet still head as a weapon; the feet
are the deadliest and draws largeerowds every night at two Bangkok the
skill with whichtheyare used gives aballetic stadiums. At once a sport
and a means of self grace to a bout, enhanced by the traditional defence,
Thai boxing differs dramatically from music played throughout.
the Western form in that the fighters are free to
Long-boat races
also remain popular from the days when waterways formed the principal
means of communication in the country. Many provinces, among them Phichit,
Narathiwat, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nan, Phitsanulok, Ayutthaya and Bangkok
stage spectacular races, usually as part of festivals toward the end of
the rainy season.
Takrowinvolving
a ball made of woven rattan, is a traditional sport that can be observed
throughout the country wherever groups of men or boys gather after work
in a field or vacant piece of land. The feet, knees, elbows, shoulders,
and head-but not the hands-are used to keep the ball in the air, often
with displays of extraordinary grace. A more serious variation known as
takro lad hung (hoop takro) can be seen in competitions between
professional teams at Sanam Luang during the hot season, and another, net
 takro is played at the National Stadium and at Hua Mak Stadium.
Another ancient sport that deserves mention is kite fighting,
an aerial battle of the sexes best enjoyed at Sanam Luang during March
and April when there is a dependable breeze every afternoon. Huge "male"
kites, called chulas, each requiring a sizeable team of flyers,
endeavor to snare smaller "females", called pakpaos, while thousands
of fans cheer from comfortable chairs on the field, creating a unique spectacle
to be long remembered.
Places to see Thai sports in
Bangkok:
1. Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium
Ratchadamnoen Nok Ave., Bangkok
2. Lumphini Boxing Stadium
Rama IV Rd., near Lumphini Park, Bangkok
3. Sam Rong Boxing Stadium
Sam Rang, Samut Prakan
4. National Stadium
Rama I Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok
5. Hua Mak Stadium
Ramkhamhaeng, Khlong Ton Rd., near Ramkhamhaeng
University, Bangkok.
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