The following are the 5 most celebrated Thai Sports:
Makruk
Makruk, or Thai Chess, is a board game that looks very similar to the standard game of chess. A descendant of the 6th-century Indian game of Chaturanga, which is known as a predecessor of chess, Makruk has been described as being more strategic that traditional chess. The target of Makruk, similar to traditional chess, is to checkmate the kind i.e. trap him so that he can not move in any direction.
Interestingly, there is a variant of Makruk, known as Ouk Chatrang, that is played in Cambodia. Ouk Chatrang has been known to have been in existence since the 12th century, as it has been depicted in the Angkor Temples.
Sepak Takraw
Sepak Takraw is another sport with thousands of followers in Thailand. Essentially conceived as a compromise between Malaysia and Thailand, this sport derives its names from Sepak, which is the Malay word for “kick”, and Takraw, which is a kind of Thai woven ball. This sport, which is referred to only as Takraw in Thailand, is similar to volleyball but differs from it in its use of the woven ball, and allowing players to use their knees, feet, head and chest to touch the ball. Takraw is a sport that requires skill, technique and coordination. The trick is that players are NOT ALLOWED to use their hands.
The sport’s popularity has heightened over the years, and it is now a regular sport in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games. While formal versions of the game are played like volleyball with a net between the two teams, the more casual games are played in a circle as the ball is passed around.
Kaeng Ruer (Boat Racing)
Kaeng Ruer originated in Thailand during the Ayutthaya period and has managed to maintain its popularity till date. Its history in Thailand spans centuries, though there has been no historical evidence of its origin. The boat races are commonly held from the months of September to November and usually celebrate the end of the rainy season, with each team consisting of 8-10 oarsmen and a helmsman. The boats used in Kaeng Ruer are made from hardwood and have coloured cloth tied to the boat to honour the guardian spirits.
Chon Wua (Bull Fighting)
Chon Wua is believed to have long been a traditional pastime in Thailand’s southern provinces since the Ayutthaya period. Chon Wua is usually held during local festivities or on the first Saturday of every month and the bulls chosen have to go through a year’s training before they can enter the ring. The match reaches its conclusion when the weaker bull retreats. The locking of the horns as the bulls clash never ceases to enthrall the devoted Thai spectators.
Len Wow (Kite Flying)
Kite Flying is a sport most enjoyed by Thais during the months of March through May. Kites are said to have been used by the Thai since the 13th and 14th century during the Sukhothai period, though it became more popular during the reign of King Rama IV. During this era, people were granted royal permission to fly kites at Bangkok’s Phra Men ground which is located next to the Grand Palace.
Kite flying turned into a competitive sport where battles are fought between two different types of kites: male and female. The male kite is called hula, and is shaped like a five pointed star. It’s huge and needs up to 20 men to maneuver it. The female kite – Pakpao, on the other hand, is a lighter diamond-shaped kite that needs only one person to handle it. It’s definitely a treat to watch these multi-coloured, uniquely designed kites filling up the skies.
Source: AsianInspirations
