Thailand has a national lacrosse team — and it just took a big step forward.
Thailand in action at the World Lacrosse Championships in Denver earlier this month.
In its first participation in the World Lacrosse Championships at the 2014 edition in Denver earlier this month, the Thais beat Mexico, Colombia, China, France and Spain, and are now ranked 29th out of 38 teams.
The performance may not be astounding but it's promising given the team is still young, having been formed only four years ago.
Primarily driven by one man who loves the thrill of the game, Prantarit Nerngchamnong, nicknamed ‘Payu’ (Storm), the national team has emerged with impressive speed.
It finished third in the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Championships (ASPAC) last year and Thailand will host the tournament next year as well as the Singha Battles Tournament in October.
“Securing the right to host the Aspac 2015 is just part of the big picture of our development aspirations not just for Thailand, but for our region as well,” Prantarit said.
In recent years, Team Thailand, which is not government-funded, has been providing clinics and equipment to its counterparts in Singapore and Malaysia.
There are also plans to expand help to other Asian countries and into women's lacrosse and box lacrosse.
Possibly 900 years old, lacrosse was invented by the Iroquoian Indians who inhabited what is now the USA and Canada. Competition was between villages. In an area as long as 2-3km, up to 1000 men competed.
In modern times, field lacrosse teams use 10 players on a soccer pitch-sized field — players carry, pass and catch a small rubber ball using a stick with a loose mesh pocket attached at the head.
The object is to score by shooting the ball into the opponents’ goal while preventing them from shooting it into your goal.
Lacrosse is the official national sport of Canada. Most people think of ice hockey, but lacrosse was named its national sport a long time ago.
The Denver tournament ended with Canada beating the USA 8-5 with the Iroquois team finishing third.
The next World Championships will be in 2018 in Manchester, England.
Thai players receive instructions from their coach.