Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has authorised the promotion of Thai boxing hero Kaew Pongprayoon from sergeant to sub-lieutenant and awarded him 60,000 baht for winning a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
"I have to congratulate Sgt Kaew for bringing fame to Thailand," Gen Prayuth said after meeting the 32-year-old light flyweight boxer from Kamphaeng Phet at the Royal Thai Army headquarters on Wednesday morning.
The national army chief said he had instructed the Thailand Boxing Association to send a letter requesting a promotion for Sgt Kaew to the rank of sub-lieutenant.
"The army will continue to be the sponsor of boxing and the army will produce more athletes to bring more fame to Thailand over the next four years.
"Regardless of what medals our athletes bring home, they represent Thailand and I will support them," he said.
Kaew lost to China's Zou Shiming in the 49kg final, but it was a controversial points decision and many Thais still believe he was robbed of victory and the referee failed to penalise Zou for fouls.
The "Thai people's gold medallist" and other Thai Olympians returned to Bangkok on Tuesday afternoon.
Thailand won two silver medals, in men's boxing and women's weightlifting, and a bronze in women's taekwondo.
Photos by Wassana Nanuam
