The first Thai gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has arrived in Phuket on her return to Thailand, and a very warm welcome. The women’s taekwondo olympic champion will be spending her 14 days after arrival quarantine-free in Phuket as part of the Phuket Sandbox campaign.
Panipak Wongpattanakit, nicknamed “Tennis,” today arrived at Phuket International Airport after winning the the gold medal in the women’s taekwondo -49kg category at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan on 24th July.
A celebration was held to welcome back the gold medalist, the national team coach Choi Young-seok, and men’s taekwondo olympian Ramnarong “Junior” Sawekwiharee from Japan, with the Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn greeting the team on arrival.
On this occasion, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, graciously bestowed flower bouquets via the Governor of Phuket Narong Woonciew on Ms Panipak, the other players and coaches in the national team, as well as the Taekwondo Association of Thailand.
Ms Panipak and other athletes arriving in Phuket from Tokyo are subject to the same rules and requirements as other international arrivals in the Phuket Sandbox campaign, including an arrival COVID-19 test conducted at the airport.
After completing the test, the olympic champion was greeted and congratulated by representatives of several organizations, including the Sports Authority of Thailand’s Governor, the Taekwondo Association of Thailand’s President, and other local agencies in Phuket.
Ms Panipak then thanked her father, the coaches, and the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, before traveling to Novotel Phuket City Phokeethra, where she and the team waited for the result of their arrival COVID-19 test in their rooms. The team will be cleared to travel freely within Phuket if the results return negative.
During her 14-day stay in Phuket, Panipak will be engaging in tourism promotion events, and a victory parade taking place on 5th August across the island.
The Minister of Tourism and Sports said the plan for Thai athletes to return to Phuket after their competition in the Tokyo Olympics will give them a chance to relax, while at the same time help promote tourism in the island province.
