World No.1 golfer Ariya Jutanugarn was named the Sports Authority of Thailand's (SAT) best professional athlete of the year on Sunday.
Ariya was the undisputed winner of the award following a remarkable season which saw the 23-year-old sweep every major LPGA season award.
Cyclist Jai Angsuthasawit and taekwondo star Panipak Wongpattanakit received the best female and male amateur athlete awards respectively at a ceremony to mark National Sports Day at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark yesterday.
Ariya won three titles this year, including her second major -- the US Women's Open -- in June. She clinched the LPGA Player of the Year award, the money title, the yearlong Race to the CME Globe prize -- and the US$1 million bonus that comes with that and the Vare Trophy for winning the season's scoring title.
Consadole Sapporo's Chanathip Songkrasin was runner-up to Ariya in the best professional athlete category. The diminutive midfielder was named in the J League's team of the year.
Both Jai and Panipak won gold medals at the Asian Games in Indonesia. Thai-Australian Jai made history by becoming the Kingdom's first ever Asiad gold medallist in track cycling with his keirin triumph.
Boxer Atichai Phoemsap, who won the gold medal at the Youth Olympics in Argentina, took the best male youth award while golfer Atthaya Thitikul claimed the female title for the second year in a row. Atthaya, along with Vanchai Luangnitikul, won the mixed team title at the Youth Olympics. She also won the world junior title in Canada.
Narongsak Kaewmala, whose ring name is Tawanchai PK Saenmuaythaigym, was named the best Muay Thai star.
Pongsakorn Paeyo (wheelchair racing) got the best male disabled athlete award while the female award went to Suneeporn Tanomwong (athletics).
The national women's volleyball team won the best team award, while the women's badminton team, who finished runners-up at this year's Uber Cup, were also honoured.
Women's volleyball coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul was named the best coach in amateur sports, Port FC coach Jadet Meelarp won in the professional category while boxing coach Juan Bautista Fontanills Queada won the best foreign coach award. The Thai Cycling Association was labelled the best association.