Big Tom Resigns as Takraw Association President Amid Internal Conflicts

The Thai sports world was stunned when 'Big Tom' Thana Chaiyaprasit announced his resignation from the Thailand Takraw Association presidency. He confirmed the resignation was due to numerous internal problems with multiple groups and factions within the association. 'Decisions are difficult. During meetings with the executive committee, we have to wait 4-5 hours and struggle to reach conclusions,' Thana said. He also cited the SEA Games 2025 performance, where the men's takraw team failed to win any gold medals, believing the responsibility is shared between the president and executive committee. His resignation takes effect immediately (February 3, 2024), with clubs required to select a new president within 30 days. 'Let them discuss and share their thoughts. It seemed like there were two teams within the executive committee,' he added. When asked about the pressure of his role, Thana admitted experiencing considerable stress, noting that decisions require collective consensus and he could not make unilateral choices. Thana had assumed the association presidency in 2023.