Wijan Ponlid
Encyclopedia
Wijan Ponlid is a Thai
boxer
who competed in the Men's Flyweight (– 51 kg) division at the 2000 Summer Olympics
and won the gold medal. He returned to Thailand to a hero's welcome: honored with a new house, over 20 million baht
, a job promotion (as a police officer
in Suhkhothai), and paraded at the front of a procession of 49 elephants through the city of Bangkok
.
Ponlid defeated Vardan Zakaryan of Germany
in round 1, Andrew Kooner
of Canada
in round 2, upset Cuba
n Manuel Mantilla
in the quarterfinal, beat Vladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine
in the semifinal and finally met Atlanta
silver medalist Bulat Jumadilov
of Kazakhstan
in the final. The Thai led after every round of the bout, despite Jumadilov taking the second 6-5 to pull back to 9-7 behind, and caused endless problems for the Kazakh with his probing right lead and quick left.
In a messy fight, both men fell to the canvas twice in the third round as they pushed and clinched, but Ponlid led 15-11 at the bell and then made sure of gold by dominating the fourth.
It was Thailand’s second gold medal in Olympic boxing following featherweight Somluck Kamsing’s euphoric victory at Atlanta in 1996.
And just as Thai supporters feted Somluck in Atlanta for winning Thailand’s first Olympic gold in 44 years, they were just as ecstatic, waving their national flags and chanting his name, as Wijan was acclaimed the champion.
In victory Wijan held aloft a framed photo of King Bhumibol in the ring with the red, white and blue Flag of Thai flag draped around his shoulders.
In Muay thai
his name is Si Satchanalai Taxi Meter.
Has been called the "Thai Pea" in reference to another great southpaw defensive boxing master, Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who competed in the Men's Flyweight (– 51 kg) division at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and won the gold medal. He returned to Thailand to a hero's welcome: honored with a new house, over 20 million baht
Thai baht
The baht is the currency of Thailand. It is subdivided into 100 satang . The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand.-History:The baht, like the pound, originated from a traditional unit of mass...
, a job promotion (as a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in Suhkhothai), and paraded at the front of a procession of 49 elephants through the city of Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
Ponlid defeated Vardan Zakaryan of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in round 1, Andrew Kooner
Andrew Kooner
Andrew Singh Kooner is a Canadian boxer.-Amateur career:Andrew Kooner moved to Tecumseh, Ontario at a young age and began boxing at age 13 out of a Windsor boxing club. At the 2000 Summer Olympics he lost in the 2nd round in the flyweight division...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in round 2, upset Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n Manuel Mantilla
Manuel Mantilla
Manuel Mantilla is an amateur boxer from Cuba, who represented his native country in the Men's Flyweight category at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia....
in the quarterfinal, beat Vladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
in the semifinal and finally met Atlanta
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
silver medalist Bulat Jumadilov
Bulat Jumadilov
Bulat Jumadilov is a Kazakh boxer who competed in the Men's Flyweight at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal. Four years earlier at the 1996 Summer Olympics he also captured the silver medal...
of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
in the final. The Thai led after every round of the bout, despite Jumadilov taking the second 6-5 to pull back to 9-7 behind, and caused endless problems for the Kazakh with his probing right lead and quick left.
In a messy fight, both men fell to the canvas twice in the third round as they pushed and clinched, but Ponlid led 15-11 at the bell and then made sure of gold by dominating the fourth.
It was Thailand’s second gold medal in Olympic boxing following featherweight Somluck Kamsing’s euphoric victory at Atlanta in 1996.
And just as Thai supporters feted Somluck in Atlanta for winning Thailand’s first Olympic gold in 44 years, they were just as ecstatic, waving their national flags and chanting his name, as Wijan was acclaimed the champion.
In victory Wijan held aloft a framed photo of King Bhumibol in the ring with the red, white and blue Flag of Thai flag draped around his shoulders.
In Muay thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
his name is Si Satchanalai Taxi Meter.
Olympic results
- Defeated Vardan Zakaryan (Germany) RSC 4
- Defeated Andrew KoonerAndrew KoonerAndrew Singh Kooner is a Canadian boxer.-Amateur career:Andrew Kooner moved to Tecumseh, Ontario at a young age and began boxing at age 13 out of a Windsor boxing club. At the 2000 Summer Olympics he lost in the 2nd round in the flyweight division...
(Canada) 11-7 - Defeated Manuel MantillaManuel MantillaManuel Mantilla is an amateur boxer from Cuba, who represented his native country in the Men's Flyweight category at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia....
(Cuba) 19-8 - Defeated Wladimir SidorenkoWladimir SidorenkoVolodymyr Sydorenko, or Vladimir Sidorenko, is a professional boxer in the bantamweight division. He is the former WBA world bantamweight champion, and twin brother of Valeriy Sydorenko.-Amateur career:...
(Ukraine) 14-11 - Defeated Bulat JumadilovBulat JumadilovBulat Jumadilov is a Kazakh boxer who competed in the Men's Flyweight at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal. Four years earlier at the 1996 Summer Olympics he also captured the silver medal...
(Kazakhstan) 19-12
Has been called the "Thai Pea" in reference to another great southpaw defensive boxing master, Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker.