Thailand’s National Deaf Football Team (male) competed in the 2^nd World Deaf Football Championships, hosted   by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf: ICSD, in Ankara, the Republic of Turkey from 16 to 28 July 2012. There were 16 national teams from Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Japan, Korea, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan and Venezuela competing in this very important tournament. The Thai Team was led by Mr. Anusorn Pimnga, President of the Thai Football Sport Club for the Disabled (TFSCD), Mr. Akkarawat Manpiyapong, Team Manager, and Capt. Surasak Tangsurat, Head Coach.

          To welcome and give the athletes moral support, H.E. Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Ambassador of Thailand to Turkey, and staff of the Embassy hosted a  dinner for them at the official residence of the Thai Ambassador on 24 July 2012. The Ambassador and the Thai diplomats together with Thai nationals  residing in Ankara  went to watch and give moral support to the Thai team at each and every match including Thailand’s final match  against the Japan’s national team on 27 July 2012 at Gölbaşı Stadium, which Thailand won over Japan with the score at 2 - 1.

          After the completion of the match, the President of TFCD and the footballers presented the Ambassador a football with all team members’ autographs as a thank you present for the Ambassador’s and his staff’s generous support to the Thai team throughout the tournament.

          As a result of this tournament, the Thai Deaf Football Team’s ranking has been raised from 10^th to 7^th in the ICSD World Ranking.