Different professional tracks in Thailand

Thailand is a famous place for sports. People can enjoy different sports according to their likings. There are several tracks for several levels. The 800 meter track is especially designed for National Class racing. This offers challenges which are related to this class of sport. Different karts are available for rental. Most of these are equipped with either twin 4-stroke engines or 2-stroke racing engines. The karts can be rented for ten minutes racing sessions. There is also an alternative process in which you can bring your own kart and rent the track by the day. The staff is very helpful and usually full technical support is available if required.

The beginners don’t worry! There are some excellent tracks for beginners mainly who are newcomers to the sport. The younger members and grown ups of the family can try the 450 meter beginners Track. This is a nice place to start where a range of karts are available for rental.

Children from 4 years upwards can ride as passengers with the adult persons in the two seat carts. The six years and over are eligible to race in the junior karts. The karts are customized to suit small drivers and so are powered by 80cc four stroke engines. The larger karts are available for the older members with powerful 100 cc four stroke engines. The staff is there to give their valuable advice on the karts. They will suggest you which would be best one for you.

The off road track is really interesting. You can experience some real fun out here. This usually offer a different experience altogether. Two sizes of karts and trial bikes are available on the dirt circuit for the rental purpose.

Thai Chess-Make your move right...

From the earliest days chess has been the game for the people with brains. Thai people love to sort out all problems with brains and thus chess is their favorite game. We can say big things come in small packages. Thai people are best example of this proverb. Thai chess is the favorite hobby for most of the Thai people. People of any ages can play this game. Thai chess is a little more complicated than the normal chess I mean the world chess. But playing Thai chess is obviously a great challenge to most of the people. To play this game you need to have a composed brain and a cool head.

Thai chess has several differences than other chess. The only similarity lies in the moves of the ‘knight’. In Thai language it is called as ‘Ma’ i.e. ‘Horse’. Board size is usually 8 x 8. The board set up is same but the white Khun are facing the black Met. The pieces are set up from left to right. Namely Rua, Ma, Khon, Khun, Met, Khon, Ma, Rua. The Bia is placed on the third position in sixth row which is also dissimilar to world chess.

The movement of Khun can be explained as it can move one square in each of the directions. This is the most important one which can never die as because with the Khun’s death the game will come to an end. Khon or Bishop can move one square diagonally in each direction an also one square straight forward. Khon is usually used to save Khun. Sometimes it is more useful than knight or ma at the end. Met or queen can always move diagonally in each direction but the movement is for only one square. Ma can move whose action is similar to that of knight in world chess. Rua can also move and work just as rook in world chess. It can be proved as powerful if you are still having it till the end.

Sepak takraw-a famous Thai sports

Sepak takraw is actually kick volleyball in Thai language. This interesting sport is native to Southeast Asia. The game resembles a lot with volleyball. There are some differences like in Sepak takraw the players use a rattan ball. The players are allowed to touch the ball with their knee, chest, feet and head. This sport is very popular in Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia. The game has different nomenclature in different countries. In Thailand it is called takraw, sometimes it is also known as thuck thay. In Malaysia it is popular as sepak raga while in Australia it is famous as footnis. In Philippines, people know the game as sipa means kick.

The game names sepak takraw also has some historical background. Murals at Wat Phra Keow in Bangkok depict that the Hindu god Hanuman playing takraw. The mural shows that he is playing it in a ring with a group of monkeys. This game is also mentioned earlier during the time in power of King Naresuan of Ayutthaya. This game has taken its present shape in Thailand in early 1740s. In 1866 Siam Sports Association drafted the rules for competition. After four years volleyball style net has been introduced and first public contest held at that time. Later on takraw was also introduced in Siamese school curriculum. By 1940s, the net version of sepak takraw had spread throughout Southeast Asia. Presently ISTAF (International Sepak Takraw Federation) governed the International play. In Thailand every year The King’s Cup World Championships are held.

The scoring system in sepak takraw is very interesting. A point is awarded to the opposite side when either receiving side or serving side commits a mistake. The opposite party also becomes liable to make next service. The winning point is 21 for a set. If the set is tied at 20-20, in that case the referee announces as setting up to 25 points. Sepak takraw is played in two sets with two minutes rest between the two games. In case each ‘regu’ wins 1-1 set, the game is ready for the third ‘tiebreak’ match. Before the tiebreak match is set the referee usually toss a coin. The winning group of the toss enjoys the ‘choosing service’ option. When one ‘regu’ reaches 8 points, one side change of the teams takes place.

Thai - Krabi Krabong - The Man with the Golden Gun

Krabi Krabong is known as a Thai martial art which is weapon-based and similar to Malay Silat and Burmese Banshay. It’s the 400 year old Thai sports.In a James Bond classic, "The Man with the Golden Gun" one can watch a glimpse of Krabi Krabong, where two fighters where fighting with the swords. This Thai sports requires training on the weapons like Daab (single-edge sword), Krabong, Loh (buckler), Plong (stick), Ngao (halberd) Daab Song Mue (two-handed swords), Mai Sawk (pair of clubs for the forearms).

Beside the weapons, one can play this Thai sports empty handed provided the technique is known. The empty handed version of Krabi Krabong is kick based and highly technical in nature. Buddhai Swan Sword is another form of Krabi Krabong. This Thai sports version is introduced by Ajarn Sumai.This Thai sport is popular across the boarder and geography and thus the interest for this sport is rapidly grown up in Thailand. Krabi Krabong is all about handling weapon in hand while fighting with the enemy. The Thailand government is promoting the sports all over Thailand through displays and awareness and trying to make it popular the sport among foreign tourists and focuses more on tourist viewer ship for this sport. Displays are visible all over Thailand on different tourist spots and venues. The King’s bodyguard, which is an elite guard in the country, is trained in Krabi Krabong.

A Krabi Krabong match is always played inside a circle. The match starts after a Wai Kru, where the players pay respect to each other. The music is played throughout the event. In a competition event sharpen weapons are given to the participants, although restrictions are imposed such a way so that the participants should not end up hurting each other during the match. The judge announces the winner based on the technical abilities of the participants.