Singha Corporation has promised more support for sports development.
The company started providing support for sports 30 years ago and is currently a major sponsor of 19 sports associations and more than 300 athletes including about 200 golfers.
Among the associations are the Thailand Golf Association, Taekwondo Association of Thailand, Badminton Association of Thailand, and Sports for the Disabled of Thailand.
Golfers who are sponsored by Singha include three-time Asian Tour No.1 Thongchai Jaidee, who has won six European Tour titles, four-time Europen Senior Tour winner Boonchu Ruangkit, four-time Japan Golf Tour winner Prayad Marksaeng, and former Asian Tour No.1 Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Athletes in other sports include 2013 world badminton champion Ratchanok Intanon, former world top-10 tennis player Paradorn Srichaphan and 2006 Asian Games tennis champion Danai Udomchoke.
The company has also introduced development programmes and activities for young athletes.
The company had supported sports when current Singha Corporation president Santi Bhirombhakdi initiated a project for professional sports development three decades ago.
He said the scheme proved to be a success as a lot of athletes can make a living in sports.
“It is a great success and many athletes can make a living through sports,’’ said the 68-year-old boss.
More youth and grassroots development projects will be introduced to make sure they are in the right direction to become future stars, he said.
Golfer Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thanyarat Chairat at their engagement ceremony in Pattaya yesterday. They plan to marry next year.
“We will keep supporting sports," said Santi.
Veteran golfer Prayad Marksaeng, who has also won six titles on the Asian Tour, said he was grateful to support from the company which changed his life.
“Its support has made my life become much better," said the Hua Hin native who received his first set of golf clubs from Santi.
“At that time, I was collecting golf balls [to resell them] and wanted to play golf," he recalled.
“Thanks to the company, I could start playing golf and I am a better player now.”
Singha executive Rangsrid Luxitanond said that to celebrate the company’s success in sports, the inaugural Singha Sports Hall of Fame will be held on Wednesday.
“We are organising the event to honour our athletes for their hard work for the country. It will be held every year to promote athletes and associations we support,’’ he said.
“This year is the beginning and it will become bigger in the following years.”
Rangsrid, who is also president of the Thailand Golf Association, said thanks to support from Singha the Thai golf team made history at last year’s Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
The squad took home the country’s first ever Asiad medals in golf — one gold, one silver and two bronzes.
“We will expand our support for both athletes and associations," he said.
“Also, more support will be given to local sports events.”
The company also plans to establish a sports foundation to be chaired by Piti Bhirombhakdi, according to Singha officials.