“Dr. Sathit Pitutecha”, Deputy Minister of Public Health together with the team praised Thai Cycling Association

    “Dr. Sathit Pitutecha”, Deputy Minister of Public Health together with the team praised Thai Cycling Association as a role model of organizing competitions for other sports associations after inspecting the Queen Sirikit’s Cup Thailand Track National Championships, Round 1 at the Velodrome Huamark, Bangkok. The competition is organized according to the standards of the Department of Health and Department of Disease Control, adhering to the main measures to completely prevent the COVID-19 for international programs. As for “Tour of Thailand 2020”, Deputy Minister of Public Health allowed to prepare for a suitable solution in order to be able to proceed with the competition as quickly as possible and for the reputation of Thailand, while "Jutatip Maneephan" performed the best work, sweeping alone 5 golden medals.

    The Queen Sirikit’s Cup Thailand Track National Championships 2020, Round 1 at the Velodrome Huamark, Bangkok on July 12 is held in a “New Normal”  format by Thai Cycling Association (TCA), under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, and is honored by Dr. Sathit Pitutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health and his team to witness the competition with General Decha Hemkasri, President of the Association, Mr. Wissanu Laichapit, Deputy governor of Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for administration department along with the executive committee of the Association.

    Deputy Minister of Public Health, accompanied by Dr. Panpimol Wipulakorn, Director-General of the Department of Health, Dr. Bancha Kakhong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, Mr. Somsak Paniangthong, advisor and chairman of the working group of Deputy Minister of Public Health, Dr. Udom Asawutmangkur, MD, Director of Physical Activity for Health Department, Department of Health and Dr. Kajornsak Kaewcharat, Deputy Director General of the Department of Disease Control, watched the Queen Sirikit’s Cup Thailand Track Championships 2020, organized in a “New Normal” format in order to comply with the guidelines of the measures to ease the business and sports activities to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 of  The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

    In this regard,  Dr. Sathit Pitutecha, Deputy Minister of Public Health and the team, before entering the Velodrome, went through all same procedures as riders, officials and related parties. That is to say; they start from the screening point, to check temperature, to scan applications “Thai Chana”, to receive ID cards, to attach stickers and to pass sterilized points. After that, Dr. Sathit and his team went to Hall of Fame Room of Thai Cycling Association to pay respect to the statue of Mr. Seri Trairat, the father of Thai Cycling and pay homage to the statue of Mr. Prida Chullaonthon, King of the Gold Medals of Thai Cycling before watching the competition of 3 events: MJ Individual persuit 3 km, the cycling show from "Beaze" Lt. Jutatip Maneeraphan, a female road rider who qualified in the Olympic Games "Tokyo 2020" in Japan and the men's sprint team of Jai Angsuthasawit,  Worrayut Kupanya,  Jaturong Niwanti, this sprint team is the hope of the Association at the 2024 Olympic Games for the next 4 years in Paris, France.

After the competition, Deputy Minister of Public Health said to the competition organizers, athletes and officials that Thai Cycling Association and Ministry of Public Health were familiar and jointly organized the project "Kao Tha Chai, Season 2, against COVID-19”. In addition, the cycling sport has been a sport that has built a reputation for Thailand for a long time since the reign of Prida Chullamonthon, the gold medalist in the Asian Games. He thanks to the President of the Association, General Decha Hemkasri, who has brought Thai riders to the top of Asia and a high ranking in the world, it, therefore, is very proud. He wishes to be encouraged to the President of the Association, the executive committee, riders and officials in all departments that has been working together for a long time, wishing for success and continuing to build a reputation for the nation.

    After that, Dr. Sathit Pitutecha gave an interview to the media that to organize this track cycling race, round 1, the Association can compete with the standards of the Department of Health And Department of Disease Control by adhering to the main measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 completely, including specific measures “no contact”. There are innovations in providing space for riders to warm-up in proportion with plastic partition regarded as Thai Cycling Association as a prototype in organizing competitions for other sports associations after the Director-General of the Department of Health And the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health has come to investigate in advance and report to him that there is a competition that is of a very high standard.

“In addition, I have personally inspected and seen that the competition committee and staff have worn rubber gloves to prevent touching. There are 4 screening points set up, appointments for practice and competition is a closed system without spectators, when looking at the overall picture, it is considered very perfect, called even beyond the standards, I have to ask Mr.Wisanu Laichapich, Deputy Governor of the SAT, to take the main measures of the Association adapted to other sporting events. Now the situation in Thailand, we are confident and reliable. We have controls and limit immigration. The government is also trying to ease measures to prevent it from time to time,”said Deputy Minister of The Ministry of Public Health.

    A reporter asked that in the case the Association is preparing to organize an international road race, namely "Tour of Thailand 2020", What are the measures of the Ministry of Public Health regarding foreign riders who have to travel to Thailand ? Will there be a 14-day detention or test for the virus from the country of origin?  Dr. Sathit said that after discussions with General Deja and Dr. Panphimon Wipulakorn Director-General of the Department of Health, There is a common opinion that competitions that benefit the nation in terms of economic recovery are also included. This is the fact that we see the standard of competition of the Association which has strict measures. There is a competition guide and  a perfect plan. However, this must be discussed with the Department of Health and Department of Disease Control in finding a suitable solution in order to be able to proceed with the competition as quickly as possible and to allow foreigners to recognize the preventive measures for the COVID-19, including for the reputation of Thailand as well.

    While Dr. Panphimon Wipulakorn, Director-General of the Department of Health added that as Dr. Sathit has told to the media that the Association is able to organize competitions according to standards with the main measures and specific supplementary measures of cycling sport competition regarded as Thai Cycling  Association can be a prototype of organizing other sporting events, especially those playing in open spaces. Athletes do not have to touch each other, they are able to apply the measures of the Association.

    As for the interesting results of the Queen Sirikit’s Cup, “Beaz” Lieutenant Jutatip Maneephan from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defense did the best job, sweeping alone 5 gold medals from the Women’s 500 meters), time 38.995 seconds, individual  Pursuit 3 km, time 4.20.405 minutes, TCA Sprint  (Jutathip Maneeraphan, S.E. Chaniporn Batriya) time 57.502 seconds, Time Trial 200 meters,  time 12.055 seconds and One Lap sprint, time 26.903 seconds, breaking the record at Miss Kanyarat Nookkaew (Fisherman Friend Wing 46 Phitsanulok) made in selection 27.016 seconds.

As for Jai Angsuthasawit From Fisherman's Friend Rama 3, he won 1 golden medal from Time Trial 200 meters,  time 10.653 seconds. In addition, Miss Nathaporn Aphimote, a female junior from Bangkok Sports School+ Roojai is also doing a great work, sweeping the golden medal alone for  5 categories as well.  As all match results can be seen on the website of Thai Cycling Association www.thaicycling.or.th 

    For the round 2 of the Queen Sirikit’s Cup Thailand Track Championships, it will be held on July 24-26 at the Velodrome Hua Mark, Bangkok. The interesting riders will apply to compete online or on the association's website ,www.thaicycling.or.th only. Keeping in mind that it has been absolutely not accepting any applications in the track. For more information, contact Thai Cycling Association. Call 0-2719-3340-2.