Police Lieutenant colonel Wijan Ponlid (Thai: วิจารณ์ พลฤทธิ์; RTGSWichan Phonrit; born April 26, 1976) is a Thai boxer[1] 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.

Wijan Ponlid
TCh, TM, ChBh, RChM
Personal information
Full nameวิจารณ์ พลฤทธิ์
Nickname(s)"Thai Pea"
"Ikkyū-san"
Nationality Thailand
Born (1976-04-26) April 26, 1976 (age 48)
Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight51 kg (112 lb)
Sport
SportBoxing
Weight classFlyweight
ClubThai Police
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney Flyweight
SEA Games
Gold medal – first place 1999 Sea Games Flyweight

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 (Thai: ศรีสัชนาลัย แท็กซี่มิเตอร์) and Sisatchanalai Sasiprapagym (Thai: ศรีสัชนาลัย ศศิประภายิม).

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.[2] 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

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

Muay Thai record

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Muay Thai record
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
1999-03- Win   Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai Rangsit Stadium Pathum Thani, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
Wins the vacant Rangsit Stadium 118 lbs title.
1999-01-21 Draw   Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai Rangsit Stadium Pathum Thani, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1998-12- Loss   Kasemlek Kiatsiri Rangsit Stadium Pathum Thani, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1998-11-18 Loss   Yodthanu Daopaetriew Rangsit Stadium Pathum Thani, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
For the Rangsit Stadium 115 lbs title.
1998-10-15 Win   Sornram Sitsiayam Rangsit Stadium Pathum Thani, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1998-07-13 Loss   Saenchai Sor.Kingstar Lumpinee Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1997-12-08 Win   Yodthanu Daopaetriew Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
Wins Rajadamnern Stadium 115 lbs title.
1997-10-09 Loss   Palangphet Por.Srithong Lumpinee Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1997-03-12 Loss   Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1996-10-21 Loss   Palangphet Por.Srithong Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1996-04-04 Win   Chartchainoi Chaorai-Oi Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1995-09-13 Loss   Jaipetch Chor.Chutirat Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1995-08-17 Win   Saenthanong Lukbanyai Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1995-03-09 Win   Khaopong Pinsinchai Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1994-10-13 Win   Petchwangchan Lukchaophophrakan Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1994-02-16 Win   Inseenoi Sereefarm Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
1993-04-22 Win   Surat Kiatkamthorn Rajadamnern Stadium Bangkok, Thailand Decision 5 3:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

References

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  1. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20161203201319/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/po/wijan-ponlid-1.html [bare URL]
  2. ^ "นักชกเสื้อกล้ามไทยพร้อมบู๊โอลิมปิก "เฟี้ยว-เนย" ประเดิม 27 ก.ค.นี้". Siamsport (in Thai). 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
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