The people of Thailand are known to take pride in their sports. But, globalization has paved the way for other games to become accepted in the country.
If you are wondering what is the most popular sports in Thailand, then this story will help you out. Thailand first competed in the Summer Olympic Games in 1952 and in the Winter Games in 2002. Thailand has had its best success in boxing events, and in 1996 the nation won its first Olympic gold medal for boxing. Let us peek into some of the most popular sports and games of Thailand that the people love to play.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai, also known as Thai Boxing is a sport that has been passed on generation after generation, making it Thailand’s national sport. It is a mixed martial art (MMA) and is also popular as the “Art of 8 limbs.” Unlike the usual karate or boxing, Muay Thai uses a combination of punches, knees, kicks, and elbows. This unique style of the sport makes it famous not just in Thailand but all across the globe.
Football
Like in all the other places in the world, football is popular in Thailand too. Football came to Thailand in the late 19th century and Thailand has a national football team that represents the country in different major leagues in the world. The team has five AFF championships and nine senior-level gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.
Golf
King Rama V introduced golf to the nation during his reign that ended in 1910. During the early years only elitists played golf, but now the sport is open to all (anyone who can afford it) with over 250 courses across the country. Golf tourism is also popular in Thailand with thousands of tourists arriving for affordable golf vacations. If you visit Thailand, you’ll find lots of course types designed by some of the greats.
Boxing
Another famous sport among the Thai people is boxing. With their love for Muay Thai, it is evident that they also find the usual boxing amusing. This activity is similar to Thailand’s national sport, but with less action since it is mostly about punches.
Dota 2
Dota 2 is one of the most oldest and eminent e-sports across the globe, and it dominates even Thailand. Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena that combines elements of real-time strategy and tower defense. Even though Dota 2 is a famous game in Thailand, some locals say that only well-off individuals play the game, because not everyone can afford a personal computer with an installed game.
Badminton
Thanks to the low cost of equipment, people in Thailand love to play badminton during their spare time. Take a drive into a smaller town and you might see people young and old hitting a shuttlecock in the middle of the road.
If you love to play or witness fun games and sports, you must visit Thailand soon.
