“2016 International Gateball Championship in Thailand”

The Chinese team took the first place and Hong Kong team second place!

“2016 International Gateball Championship,” hosted by Thai Gateball Union, was held at the National stadium in Bangkok of Thailand from March 4 (Friday) to 6 (Sunday), in 2016.


In addition to 7 teams from Japan, the teams participated were 1 team from Europe, 24 from China, 5 from Taiwan, 3 from Macao, 2 from Indonesia, 1 from Singapore, 1 from India, 1 from Hong Kong, and 19 from Thailand.  Total number was 64 teams.


At the welcome party combined with an opening ceremony held on the first day, Thailand TV entertainers joined, members of both China and Thailand teams danced, and members of Yamanashi prefecture team from Japan showed their dance entitled “Takeda Bushi.” So the party became very lively.


The competition was consisted of the final tournament after preliminary league.  4 Japanese teams went up to the final tournament and “TEAM TOKYO” which played in the 3rd match was the best team out of 7 Japanese teams.  The first place was taken by Chinese team, the second by Hong Kong team.  Japanese teams who did their best have not played the final match, but all participants seemed to enjoy the gateball game abroad from the bottom of the heart.


The judges were students of the university where Mr. Prachon, a chairman of Thai Gateball Union, works as a professor.  Their nimble movement impressed very good though the students are still learning judge techniques.


Currently, there are 300 gateball lovers in Thailand.  Because it was the first time for Thai Gateball Union to host the large-scale international gateball game which were participated by a lot of teams coming from foreign countries and local areas, the staff members looked a little confused during the game.  However, after the game was finished, the female staff member managing the game was tossed into the air by team participants and wailed.  That made a deep impression on everybody there.


With the support of a Japan foundation as “International Exchange Program,” Japanese teams dispatch to the championship was conducted as an authorized program of “SPORT FOR TOMORROW,” the international contribution project through sports promoted by the Japan government.


You can see how the game was going on the website of “SPORT FOR TOMORROW” below.
http://tinyurl.com/zj9zen8

Teams coming from foreign countries and local areas participating at the opening ceremony.

Members of Yamanashi prefecture team showing their dance “Takeda Bushi”

With an overseas team (Japanese team on right)

At the closing ceremony, prize winning teams (back row: first prize winning, Chinese team in the center) and representatives of foreign countries and local areas (front row)

Thailand students in charge of judge in the matches

Participants of Japanese teams