The 33rd SEA Games Baseball attracted attention on the first day of competition, when the field at the stadium celebrating the 60th birthday of Queen Sirikit (Thanyaburi) appeared to be stagnant after rain.
The image of employees using scarves and spots to get water before the competition has created many controversies on social networks, in which some opinions said that the stadium did not meet the standards.
In the opening match, the Thai men's professional tennis team beat Vietnam 16-0 after only 5 rounds, thereby winning by knockout. This is considered a favorable start for the home team.
President of the Thai Baseball Federation - Mr. Duangchote Suwancharas - expressed his satisfaction: "I am very happy that the team won 16-0 against Vietnam. Tomorrow, we will face Laos and hope that fans will continue to cheer for the Thai badminton players.
Regarding the image of the pitch being criticized as "affordable", Mr. Duangchote affirmed that using splashes to treat stagnant water is a practice in Baseball, especially for red soil courts.
"We have tried our best to prepare the stadium in the best possible conditions. Using spark plugs to absorb water is a normal process in baseball, especially for red soil courts. This type of yard does not drain water like natural grass or concrete yard with drainage ditches, so when it rains, it is necessary to handle it manually. This is something that still happens at international beisbol courts," said Mr. Duangchote.
The President of the Thai Baseball Federation also called on fans to accompany instead of criticizing: "Let's join in cheering and supporting Thai athletes. Those who work in the organization have made a lot of effort".
According to the match schedule, the Thai men's tennis team will meet Laos at 2:00 p.m. on December 6. The 33rd SEA Games Baseball Tournament brings together 7 participating teams, competing in a round-robin to select two teams to compete for gold medals and two teams to compete for bronze medals.
