The Ice Hockey Association teams up with Chulalongkorn University to promote athletes' education and sports science development, aiming to support both academic and athletic growth.
Mom Luang Krisda Kasemsan, president of the Ice Hockey Association of Thailand, and Professor Dr. Wiles Phurivaj, president of Chulalongkorn University, signed a cooperation agreement to develop ice hockey athletes through sports science and to oversee the education of Thai national team players.
This signing formalizes an academic agreement to enhance athletes' potential via sports science, aiming jointly to advance ice hockey by producing quality sports personnel, expanding academic knowledge, and developing athletes' abilities to make ice hockey players valuable national resources and ensure their stability.
Additionally, there will be exchanges of personnel and students for academic learning to improve knowledge applicable to sports development, selection of Chulalongkorn University students for internships at the Ice Hockey Association, and joint promotion of research on ice hockey sports science, athlete physical care during training and competition, and sports psychology to prepare athletes for global competitions.
Mom Luang Krisda Kasemsan, president of the Ice Hockey Association of Thailand, said it is a pride and honor to sign this cooperation with Chulalongkorn University, which provides Thai national athletes the opportunity to pursue higher education. This is part of the association’s athlete development plan, emphasizing that athletes should not neglect their education. Partnering with Chulalongkorn, Thailand’s top university, ensures national team athletes have a secure future through education.
Professor Dr. Wiles Phurivaj, president of Chulalongkorn University, said that today the university continues to support sports, with ice hockey as the latest discipline under collaboration. He expressed happiness to see Thai youth athletes develop in many ways, affirming that ice hockey players must possess knowledge and skill comparable to other sports. Importantly, Chulalongkorn offers educational opportunities equally to all athletes, regardless of winning or losing, champion status, or awards—every athlete studying at the university is treated equally.
Grace Thamida Kulthadaporn, goalkeeper of the Thai women's ice hockey team and a first-year psychology student at Chulalongkorn University, expressed gratitude to the association for valuing athletes’ education. She acknowledged that national athletes often sacrifice study time due to training camps causing class absences. This agreement will enable Chulalongkorn University to better support ice hockey athletes. Personally, she promised to excel in her athletic role and aims to win a gold medal at the upcoming SEA Games.
Current ice hockey athletes enrolled at Chulalongkorn University include Thamida Kulthadaporn, Apichaya Khosanan, Tipwarin Yanakornthanapan, Patchamon Worawat, Paepailin Khanpakdee, Praiploy Khanpakdee, Atit Khunrat, Tipnat Patramatsakul, Natthaphat Pathong, Phumripee Prasertthamma, and Pannawit Hongsawat.