Wijan Ponlid: Thailand’s 2000 Olympic Flyweight Champion
Wijarn Polrid, also transliterated as Wijan Ponlid, built his career first in Muay Thai and then in amateur boxing. Thai press accounts place his childhood in Sukhothai and say he began fighting at about age nine, under the guidance of his uncle, before moving to Bangkok as a teenager to continue school and compete. Thai Rath’s profile of his early career describes that path and identifies his early ring name as Saenching Luk Mueang Dong.
From Muay Thai to amateur boxing
As Srisatchanalai Sasiprapa Gym, he competed on Bangkok’s Muay Thai circuit and won the Rajadamnern Stadium junior-bantamweight title. In a 2018 interview, Ponlid said he had fought more than 40 Muay Thai bouts and gave up the belt when he shifted his focus to amateur boxing and prepared to join the police. Sanook’s interview with Ponlid recounts that transition; The Indian Express also reports his Rajadamnern title win.
Sydney 2000 Olympic champion
Ponlid’s defining boxing achievement came at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Competing for Thailand in the men’s flyweight division, he defeated Kazakhstan’s Bulat Jumadilov in the final to win gold. The National Olympic Committee of Thailand lists him as the 2000 men’s flyweight gold medalist, and contemporary RTE coverage reported his final victory.
A two-sport legacy
His career connects two distinct traditions: the stadium circuit of Muay Thai and the international amateur boxing ring.
Sources
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
