Surat Thani Province is set to honor its Olympic gold medalist, Panipak Wongpattanakit, known as Nong Tennis, with a “Hero Homecoming” celebration on Friday, August 23, 2024. The event will mark the athlete’s return to her hometown after securing a gold medal in taekwondo at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The preparations for the celebration were discussed in a recent meeting held at the Surat Thani Provincial Sports Science Center. Mr. Nanthawat Charoenwan, Deputy Governor of Surat Thani Province, chaired the meeting, representing Mr. Jesada Jitrat, the Governor of Surat Thani Province. The meeting focused on the arrangements to welcome Flight Lieutenant Panipak Wongpattanakit, a distinguished member of Thailand’s national taekwondo team, who won the gold medal in the 49-kilogram weight class at the Olympics.
Flight Lieutenant Panipak is scheduled to arrive in Surat Thani on the morning of Friday, August 23, 2024. She will depart from Mueang Airport on AirAsia Airlines flight FD 3235 at 7:15 a.m. and is expected to land at Surat Thani International Airport at 8:30 a.m. Upon her arrival, she will be greeted by members of the Surat Thani Provincial Executive Committee and other local officials.
Following her arrival, a celebratory parade will be held in her honor. The parade will commence from Tha Kham Municipality, where Nong Tennis will ride in an open-top float. The route will pass key landmarks in Surat Thani Municipality, including the Diamond Plaza Hotel, Surat Thani Hospital, and the City Pillar Shrine. The procession will then continue along Don Nok Road, passing Surat Thani School and Surat Thani Technical College, before concluding at Naris Bridge.
At the end of the parade, a formal ceremony will take place, where various sponsors and agencies will present awards to the Olympic champion. Among the notable contributions, the Kanchanadit District Association has pledged 1 million baht in support of the athlete.
It was reported that several local officials and community members will be in attendance to celebrate this significant achievement and extend their congratulations to Nong Tennis.
