Wijan Ponlid

Wijan Ponlid
TCh, TM, ChBh, RChM

Personal information
Full name	วิจารณ์ พลฤทธิ์
Nickname(s)	"Thai Pea" "Ikkyū-san"
Nationality	Thailand
Born	(1976-04-26) April 26, 1976 (age 49) Si Satchanalai, Sukhothai
Height	1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Weight	51 kg (112 lb)
Sport
Sport	Boxing
Weight class	Flyweight
Club	Thai Police
Medal record Olympic Games 2000 Sydney Flyweight SEA Games 1999 Sea Games Flyweight

Police Lieutenant colonel Wijan Ponlid (Thai: วิจารณ์ พลฤทธิ์; RTGS: Wichan Phonrit; born April 26, 1976) is a Thai boxer^[1] who competed in the Men's Flyweight (– 51 kg) division at the 2000 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal. He returned to Thailand to a hero's welcome: honored with a new house, over 20 million baht, a job promotion (as a police officer in Sukhothai), and paraded at the head of a procession of 49 elephants through the city of Bangkok. He has the nickname "Thai Pea", in reference to another great southpaw defensive boxing master, Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker.

Biography and career

In Muay thai, Wijan fought under the names Srisatchanalai TaxiMeter (Thai: ศรีสัชนาลัย แท็กซี่มิเตอร์) and Srisatchanalai Sasiprapagym (Thai: ศรีสัชนาลัย ศศิประภายิม). He captured the Rajadamnern Stadium Super Flyweight title in 1997. He trained alongside his brother Sukhothai TaxiMeter who also was a Rajadamnern Stadium champion.

During the 2000 Olympics Ponlid defeated Vardan Zakaryan of Germany in round 1, Andrew Kooner of Canada in round 2, upset Cuban Manuel Mantilla in the quarterfinal, beat Vladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine in the semifinal, and finally met Atlanta silver medalist Bulat Jumadilov of Kazakhstan in the final. The Thai led after every round of the bout, despite Jumadilov taking the second 6-5 to pull back to 9–7 behind, and caused endless problems for the Kazakh with his probing right lead and quick left.

In a messy fight, both men fell to the canvas twice in the third round as they pushed and clinched, but Ponlid led 15–11 at the bell and then made sure of gold by dominating the fourth.

He is the second Thai athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, following fellow boxer Somluck Kamsing’s euphoric victory at Atlanta in 1996.

And just as Thai supporters feted Somluck in Atlanta for winning Thailand’s first Olympic gold in 44 years, they were just as ecstatic, waving national flags and chanting his name, as Ponlid was acclaimed the champion.

In victory Ponlid held aloft a framed photo of King Bhumibol in the ring with the red, white and blue flag of Thailand draped around his shoulders.

After boxing

Life after boxing, he served as a police officer in his hometown of Sukhothai. Ponlid was also the head coach of the women's national boxing team competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics.^[2] After that tournament, where Janjaem Suwannapheng claimed a bronze medal in the welterweight (– 66 kg) division, he was appointed head coach of Thailand's national amateur boxing team for both men and women, with the ultimate goal of winning gold at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, until he was replaced in late August 2025 by Cuban coach Luis Mariano González Cosme.^[3]

Olympic results

• Defeated Vardan Zakaryan (Germany) RSC 4
• Defeated Andrew Kooner (Canada) 11–7
• Defeated Manuel Mantilla (Cuba) 19–8
• Defeated Wladimir Sidorenko (Ukraine) 14–11
• Defeated Bulat Zhumadilov (Kazakhstan) 19–12

Titles and accomplishments

Muay Thai

• Rajadamnern Stadium
  • 1997 Rajadamnern Stadium Super Flyweight (115 lbs) Champion

Muay Thai record

Muay Thai record

Date	Result	Opponent	Event	Location	Method	Round	Time
1999-03-	Win	Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai	Rangsit Stadium	Pathum Thani, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
Wins the vacant Rangsit Stadium 118 lbs title.
1999-01-21	Draw	Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai	Rangsit Stadium	Pathum Thani, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1998-12-	Loss	Kasemlek Kiatsiri	Rangsit Stadium	Pathum Thani, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1998-11-18	Loss	Yodthanu Daopaetriew	Rangsit Stadium	Pathum Thani, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
For the Rangsit Stadium 115 lbs title.
1998-10-15	Win	Sornram Sitsiayam	Rangsit Stadium	Pathum Thani, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1998-07-13	Loss	Saenchai Sor.Kingstar	Lumpinee Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1997-12-08	Win	Yodthanu Daopaetriew	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
Wins Rajadamnern Stadium 115 lbs title.
1997-10-09	Loss	Palangphet Por.Srithong	Lumpinee Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1997-03-12	Loss	Sansananchai Kiatprasarnchai	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1996-10-21	Loss	Palangphet Por.Srithong	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1996-07-22	Loss	Yodthanu Daopaetriew	Aswindam, Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
For the Rajadamnern Stadium 115 lbs title.
1996-04-04	Win	Chartchainoi Chaorai-Oi	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1995-09-13	Loss	Jaipetch Chor.Chutirat	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1995-08-17	Win	Saenthanong Lukbanyai	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1995-03-09	Win	Khaopong Pinsinchai	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1994-10-13	Win	Petchwangchan Lukchaophophrakan	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1994-02-16	Win	Inseenoi Sereefarm	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
1993-04-22	Win	Surat Kiatkamthorn	Rajadamnern Stadium	Bangkok, Thailand	Decision	5	3:00
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

References

1. "Wijan Ponlid Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
2. "นักชกเสื้อกล้ามไทยพร้อมบู๊โอลิมปิก "เฟี้ยว-เนย" ประเดิม 27 ก.ค.นี้". Siamsport (in Thai). 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
3. "ทวงเหรียญทอง! มวยเปิดตัวโค้ชคิวบาลุยอลป.2028". Naewna (in Thai). 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2025-09-02.

External links

• Wijan Ponlid at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)