Retired tennis star Tamarine Tanasugarn has received a surprise call-up to the national team for the 2019 SEA Games.
The decision to recall the veteran was made at yesterday's meeting of executives of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand, LTAT president Kitsombat Euammongkol said.
The other two female players picked at the meeting are Luksika Kumkhum and Peangtarn Plipuech.
The men's team features twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana and Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul.
Each team can have up to five men and five women and the LTAT will select two male and two female players later, Kitsombat said.
The SEA Games will be held in the Philippines from Nov 30-Dec 11.
Natinat Bulan, of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party, has been named manager of the tennis team.
Witthaya Samrej will coach the women's squad and Weerapat Dokmaiklee will oversee the men's team.
Tamarine, 42, will play in the women's doubles and mixed doubles event, Kitsombat said.
"She is still fit and will be one of our key players at the SEA Games,'' he said.
Tamarine last played for Thailand at the 2015 SEA Games.
Thailand won four gold medals at the previous SEA Games in 2017, missing out on the men's singles title.
The Philippines initially left out tennis from the Games but later agreed to stage the men's and women's singles and mixed doubles events.
Pressured by other member countries, including Thailand, the hosts agreed to organise five categories -- the men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles. The men's and women's team competitions were axed.
Twin brothers Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana.
