Olympic taekwondo champion Panipak Wongpattanakit and boxer Chatchai-decha Butdee were yesterday named the best female and male amateur athletes of the year by the Sport Writers Association of Thailand (Swat).
Footballer Chanathip Songkrasin and golfer Patty Tavatanakit were selected as the best men's and women's professional athletes of 2021.
The winners or their representatives received the awards at a ceremony at a Bangkok hotel.
Panipak, now 24, was Thailand's only gold medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with her success in the 49kg division.
With the victory, she became her country's first ever Olympic champion in taekwondo.
The Surat Thani native was picked by the Swat ahead of boxer Sudaporn Seesondee, a bronze medallist at the Tokyo Games.
Panipak and Sudaporn were Thailand's only two medallists at Tokyo 2020.
In his last Games appearance, Chatchai-decha had the best Olympic result of his career when he reached the quarter-finals in Tokyo.
He also won a silver medal at the world championships.
Chatchai-decha, formerly Chatchai, retired from the sport subsequent to the Tokyo Games when he was 36 after competing in three Olympics.
Chatchai-decha edged badminton star Kunlavut Vitidsarn for the writers' award.
Chanathip, dubbed "Messi Jay," played for Japanese side Consadole Sapporo last year when he was included in the J-League's team of the season.
He is now at J-League champions Kawasaki Frontale.
Chanathip captained the AFF Suzuki Cup-winning Thai side which were named the best team of the year by the Swat.
BG Pathum United, who won the 2021 Thai League 1 title for their first ever crown in the top flight, won the professional team award.
Patty claimed her maiden LPGA Tour title at the ANA Inspiration, the year's first major, which has since become the Chevron Championship.
Patty, whose Thai name is Paphangkorn, also won the LPGA's rookie of the year title and the Annika Major Award which recognises the golfer who has the most outstanding record in all five major championships in the season.
Ferrari Fairtex won the best Muay Thai fighter award with three wins and one loss in 2021.
Badminton stars Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai got the best pair award for representing Thailand to win the mixed doubles title at the world championships.
They also got the best professional duo award after winning six World Tour titles.
Their coach Tesana Panvisvas was the best coach for professional athletes.
The coach of the year for amateur athletes was national taekwondo coach Chatchai Choi, formerly Choi Young-Seok.
The Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) was the association of the year.
Weightlifter Weerapol Wichuma and badminton player Sirada Rung- pibulsophit were the best male and female youth athletes respectively.
Wheelchair racer Pongsakorn Paeyo received the best disabled male athlete award after securing three gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
The award in the women's category went to taekwondo player Khwansuda Phuangkitcha, who won bronze at the 2020 Paralympics.