Somsak Leeswadtrakul, a business tycoon and and philanthropist, has been appointed Honorary Advisor to the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT). He is set to play a central role in driving the completion of a new state-of-the-art BAT headquarters and national training centre, which is expected to be finished by the end of this year.
His appointment follows the resignation of Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as BAT President after her election as President of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), where she now oversees the organisation’s 202 member nations. Although she had recently been re-elected as BAT President, Khunying Patama stepped down in line with good governance practices to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
Dr Somsak and Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Sources within the association revealed that several member clubs had encouraged Dr Somsak to take over the presidency, citing his decades-long commitment to sport and public service. He declined the offer out of respect for his existing obligations in business and social work. However, when approached again to serve as Honorary Advisor, a position that would allow him to continue contributing behind the scenes, Dr Somsak accepted.
One of his immediate priorities is to oversee the construction of the new BAT headquarters and a five-storey national training centre located within the Sports Authority of Thailand complex. The 200-million-baht project will include 10 standard badminton courts, accommodation for athletes and coaches, administrative offices, meeting facilities, a sports science centre, a rehabilitation unit, and an exhibition hall. The project will be funded through a combination of association resources and private contributions from Khunying Patama.
In addition to his role in badminton, Dr Somsak holds several distinguished international positions in the world of sport. He serves as Chairman of the National Doping Control Centre Policy Board at the Analytical Sciences and National Doping Test Institute. He is also Patron of the Airsport Federation of Asia (AFA), a Bureau Member and member of the President’s Advisory Board of World Aquatics, and Chairman of the President’s Advisory Council of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA).
Now semi-retired, Dr Somsak devotes much of his time to philanthropic work in the fields of sport, education, public health, and social welfare. Together with Khunying Patama, the Leeswadtrakul couple is widely recognised for their consistent support of Thai and international sport and for their far-reaching contributions to society.
