Citizenship hopes boosted for Choi
TAT boss seeks help from government
The Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT) has asked the Tourism and Sports and Foreign ministries to help national coach Choi Young Seok get Thai citizenship.
Thailand have won five Olympic medals in taekwondo since the South Korean became national coach in 2002.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics which ended on Sunday, the Kingdom got a silver and a bronze via Tawin Harnprab, runner-up in the men’s 58kg division, and Panipak Wongpattanakit, who was third in the women’s 49kg class.
Although the TAT failed to secure its first ever Olympic gold medal in Rio, it was the first time that Thailand have won more than one medal in the Korean martial art at one Olympics.
Affectionately called ‘Coach Chay’ by the Thai press and fans, the Korean applied for Thai citizenship with the Interior Ministry three years ago but his request has not yet been approved.
Under Thai law, dual citizenship is not allowed although practically several Thais hold multiple passports.
Choi said it was not possible for him to relinquish his Korean citizenship and that he wanted to be a citizen of both countries.
With a Thai passport, it would be more convenient for him to work here, he said.
TAT president Pimol Srivikorn said yesterday he had discussed the matter with Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul.
“She has promised to help Choi,” said Pimol.
“She has also informed Prime Minister Prayut [Chan-o-cha] of the matter.”
Pimol said he had asked the Foreign Ministry if dual citizenship could be allowed in this case.
“He is an asset and valuable person for Thai sports. He works very hard for Thailand,” he said.
Choi was criticised by the Korean media after Tawin defeated Kim Tae-Hun, one of the country’s medal hopes, at the Rio Games.
However, Pimol said Choi told him that he had to help Thai fighters win against any opponents because he is coach of Thailand.
In Rio, South Korea once again dominated the taekwondo competition, winning two gold and three bronze medals that gave the Asian country a record 19 medals since the sport first became a competitive event at the 2000 Olympics.
But fighters from Africa, Britain, Azerbaijan and other Asian countries showed how quickly the sport has spread beyond its South Korean home and is developing champions in other regions.
“Our sport was really dominated by the Korean team and nowadays it’s such a different sport that anyone stands a chance,” said Jackie Galloway, a bronze medal winner from the United States in the women’s over 67kg category.
“More people internationally are involved in it,” she said of the rapid growth of taekwondo around the world.
With a last-second spin kick, Cheick Sallah Cisse, of the Ivory Coast, wrested the gold medal in the 80kg category from Briton Lutalo Muhammad.
The victory was Ivory Coast’s first ever Olympic gold medal and also second medal of the tournament after a bronze for Ruth Gbagbi in the women’s 67kg category.
It was also part of a strong showing for other exponents from Africa. A silver medal in the over-80kg category for Issoufou Alfaga Abdoulrazak of Niger completed a haul of five medals for fighters from the continent, including a bronze each for Egypt and Tunisia.