Ratchanok seeks divine boost

Ratchanok seeks divine boost

Phra Prommangkalachan blesses badminton star Ratchanok Intanon and other athletes before they head off to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by  Apichart Jinakul
Phra Prommangkalachan blesses badminton star Ratchanok Intanon and other athletes before they head off to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by  Apichart Jinakul

Apart from training hard, badminton star Ratchanok Intanon has sought spiritual help to make her dream of winning an Olympic medal come true.

The fourth-ranked shuttler is one of Thailand's top medal hopes at next month's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The Badminton Association of Thailand yesterday invited revered monk Phra Prommangkalachan, better known as Chao Khun Thongchai, to give his blessings to the Olympics team at its headquarters.

Ratchanok and six other Thai players who will compete in Rio received amulets and holy cloth from the deputy abbot of Wat Trai Mit Witthayaram.

The monk also gave the association a gold Buddha image.

Ratchanok said she had also visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Erawan shrine and Wat Thevarat Kunchorn.

"I am confident I will bring home a medal for the Thai people," said Ratchanok, who was recently cleared of doping allegations.

Chao Khun Thongchai said the shuttlers should follow in the footsteps of the English Premier League champions, Leicester City, who also received his blessings.

"Leicester City players became successful because they wanted to win and kept fighting," he said.

"I believe all sacred things in the world will help the badminton players bring home Olympic medals for Their Majesties the King and Queen," he added.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (9)