Khon kaen: The final round of the university football tournament in Khon Kaen is intensifying as 32 institutions from across the country vie for over one million baht in prize money.
According to Thai News Agency, a press conference and draw for the 4th Thailand University Football Championship were recently held at the Phra Chom Klao Building, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The event was presided over by Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, alongside key figures such as Ms. Waraporn Rungtrakarn, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanchai Suksuwan, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pensri Charoenvanich, Vice President of Khon Kaen University, and Dr. Vallop Suwannadee, President of Kasem Bundit University.
The competition has garnered significant interest, with 70 teams joining the qualifying rounds from five regions: Bangkok, Northeast, Central/Eastern, Northern, and Southern Thailand. From these regional competitions, the top 30 teams emerged to advance to the national finals, joined by two special quota teams-Khon Kaen University, as the host, and Thammasat University, the defending champion-making up the 32 finalist teams.
The total prize pool exceeds 1,000,000 baht. The championship-winning team will be awarded 400,000 baht, a trophy, and medals. The first runner-up will receive 200,000 baht, while the second and third runners-up will earn 100,000 baht and 80,000 baht, respectively. Teams that do not reach the semi-finals will receive 55,000 baht each, and the 30 teams that qualified for the final will each be granted 15,000 baht.