Monthon: Air Chief Marshal Monthon Satchukorn, President of the Badminton Association of Thailand, recently visited the Baan Thong Yod badminton court to address and resolve the ongoing controversy surrounding the SEA Games allowances. This visit aimed to boost the morale of three national players-Ratchanok Intanon “May,” Kunlavut Vitidsarn “View,” and Pornpawee Chochuwong “Mew”-by presenting them with money and shuttlecocks.
According to Thai News Agency, the controversy arose after allegations that the athletes’ allowances for the 2025 SEA Games were “more than half deducted.” During his visit, Air Chief Marshal Monthon clarified that the financial support provided was intended as a morale booster rather than a deduction.
Despite the financial clarifications, Pornpawee “Mew” Chochuwong expressed concerns beyond the monetary issues, emphasizing the need for structural changes within the association. She highlighted repeated errors by the Sports Excellence Development Department, including oversight in athlete rosters and coordination failures in fitness testing. Mew believes these issues have led to demoralization and insists that a change in the team manager could resolve the situation.
Ratchanok “May” Intanon added her voice, stating that such problems have not occurred in previous SEA Games competitions and urged the association to take swift action. She believes that addressing these issues is crucial to reinvigorating the athletes and encouraging them to perform at their best for the country.
Kunlavut “View” Vitidsarn supported Mew’s call for fairness and highlighted that the incident should not overshadow the athletes’ commitment to the national team. He reiterated that all players are ready to give their best for the team. Air Chief Marshal Monthon assured that the association’s internal issues would be addressed promptly to prevent further disruptions.