By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Thailand is undertaking a novel way in its search for talented male and female boxers by staging a tournament among prisoners.
Thailand’s Department of Corrections is holding a boxing tournament among inmates of both sexes hoping to recreate the success stories of former inmates Amnat Ruenroeng and Samson Tor Buamad.
Sentenced for the third time to a 15 year prison term ,Runeroeng signed up for a prison boxing program, and one year later won the Thai light flyweight title. He was released from prison the next day for good behavior. Ruenroeng won a bronze medal at the 2007 World Boxing Championships in Chicago losing to the Philippines Harry Tanamor in the semi finals and subsequently qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The other example of the success achieved by an inmate was that of Women’s International Boxing Association International flyweight champion Samson Tor Buamad.
Titled the sixth “Dan Samakkee Games” the tournament in boxing as well as sepak takraw and petanque will be held in the Thonburi Remand Prison until August 28.
Boxing will be staged in nine weight divisions for men and seven for women. Over 700 athletes are competing in the three events and come from various correctional institutes all over Thailand.
The director of the Thonburi facility Preeda Nilsri was quoted by Thai media as saying the tournament is part if a plan to recruit athletes for Thailand’s national boxing squad that will compete in the 2012 London Olympic Games and the 2016 Games where the host city hasn’t been chosen as yet.
According to Nilsri those who win a gold medal in the inmate games will get a cash reward of 3,000 Baht while a silver medal will be worth 2,000 baht and a bronze medal 1,000 baht.
One of the top female boxers identified as A. Muangnakin will not be able to compete in the games as the law prohibits her from leaving the facility because she is facing what was described as a “heavy sentence.”
The national tournament silver medalist will also not likely be cleared to compete in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Laos. However, the corrections department is considering a plan to amend the law so these athletes can compete.
