Wijan Ponlid

Police Lieutenant colonel Wijan Ponlid (Template:Langx; RTGS: ; born April 26, 1976) is a Thai boxer who competed in the Men's Flyweight (– 51 kg) division at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal. He returned to Thailand to a hero's welcome: honored with a new house, over 20 million baht, a job promotion (as a police officer in Sukhothai), and paraded at the head of a procession of 49 elephants through the city of Bangkok.

Ponlid defeated Vardan Zakaryan of Germany in round 1, Andrew Kooner of Canada in round 2, upset Cuban Manuel Mantilla in the quarterfinal, beat Vladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine in the semifinal, and finally met Atlanta silver medalist Bulat Jumadilov of Kazakhstan in the final. The Thai led after every round of the bout, despite Jumadilov taking the second 6-5 to pull back to 9-7 behind, and caused endless problems for the Kazakh with his probing right lead and quick left.

In a messy fight, both men fell to the canvas twice in the third round as they pushed and clinched, but Ponlid led 15-11 at the bell and then made sure of gold by dominating the fourth.

He is the second Thai athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, following fellow boxer Somluck Kamsing’s euphoric victory at Atlanta in 1996.

And just as Thai supporters feted Somluck in Atlanta for winning Thailand’s first Olympic gold in 44 years, they were just as ecstatic, waving national flags and chanting his name, as Ponlid was acclaimed the champion.

In victory Ponlid held aloft a framed photo of King Bhumibol in the ring with the red, white and blue flag of Thailand draped around his shoulders.

In Muay thai he fought under the names Sisatchanalai Taxi Meter (Template:Langx) and Sisatchanalai Sasiprapagym (Template:Langx).

Life after boxing, he served as a police officer in his hometown of Sukhothai. He was also the head coach of the women's boxing national team competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics, after winning a bronze medal from Janjaem Suwannapheng in the welterweight (66 kg) division, he was appointed as the head coach of the Thailand national amateur boxing team for both men and women. The ultimate goal is to capture a gold medal at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Olympic results

• Defeated Vardan Zakaryan (Germany) RSC 4
• Defeated Andrew Kooner (Canada) 11-7
• Defeated Manuel Mantilla (Cuba) 19-8
• Defeated Wladimir Sidorenko (Ukraine) 14-11
• Defeated Bulat Zhumadilov (Kazakhstan) 19-12

Has been called the "Thai Pea" in reference to another great southpaw defensive boxing master, Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker.

Muay Thai record

Template:Kickboxing record start |- style="background:#cfc;" | 1999-03- || Win ||align=left|Template:Flagicon Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai ||Rangsit Stadium || Pathum Thani, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the vacant Rangsit Stadium 118 lbs title.

|- style="background:#c5d2ea;" | 1999-01-21 || Draw ||align=left|Template:Flagicon Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai ||Rangsit Stadium || Pathum Thani, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1998-12- || Loss ||align=left|Template:Flagicon Kasemlek Kiatsiri ||Rangsit Stadium || Pathum Thani, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1998-11-18 || Loss||align=left|Template:Flagicon Yodthanu Daopaetriew || Rangsit Stadium || Pathum Thani, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |For the Rangsit Stadium 115 lbs title.

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1998-10-15 || Win ||align=left|Template:Flagicon Sornram Sitsiayam || Rangsit Stadium || Pathum Thani, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1998-07-13 || Loss||align=left|Template:Flagicon Saenchai Sor.Kingstar || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1997-12-08 || Win||align=left|Template:Flagicon Yodthanu Daopaetriew || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins Rajadamnern Stadium 115 lbs title.

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1997-10-09 || Loss||align=left|Template:Flagicon Palangphet Por.Srithong || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1997-03-12 || Loss||align=left|Template:Flagicon Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1996-10-21 || Loss||align=left|Template:Flagicon Palangphet Por.Srithong || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1996-04-04 || Win||align=left|Template:Flagicon Chartchainoi Chaorai-Oi || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1995-09-13 || Loss||align=left|Template:Flagicon Jaipetch Chor.Chutirat || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1995-08-17 || Win||align=left|Template:Flagicon Saenthanong Lukbanyai || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1995-03-09 || Win||align=left|Template:Flagicon Khaopong Pinsinchai || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1994-10-13 || Win||align=left|Template:Flagicon Petchwangchan Lukchaophophrakan || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1994-02-16 || Win||align=left|Template:Flagicon Inseenoi Sereefarm || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1993-04-22 || Win||align=left|Template:Flagicon Surat Kiatkamthorn || Rajadamnern Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- | colspan=9 | Legend:

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External links

• Template:SR/Olympics profile