Petchyindee Academy Assists Gyms with Almost 1/2 Million Baht During COVID-19 Crisis

On March 30, Boat, the manager and co-owner of Petchyindee Academy in Bangkok, posted on Facebook about how he is thinking of the best ways to help out the Muay Thai community and its gyms/fighters in Thailand. With COVID-19 forcing the government to shut down gyms and all sporting events, including fights, Muay Thai is suffering in so many ways in the motherland. Fighter, trainers, and gym owners have no income due to their fighters being unable to compete (and make money from their fights), and there is no income coming in from the tourist side, being as all gyms and fitness centers must be closed for at least the next couple of weeks (at the moment of writing, all gyms and fitness centers have been ordered to close until April 14, a change from the original April 1). For more details and a timeline of COVID-19’s impact on Muay Thai, click here.

Yesterday, on March 31, he released the details in another post of exactly how he, on behalf of Petchyindee Academy, was going to help. He has sent 10,000 baht to a list of 45 gyms in Thailand, each. This totals 450,000 baht. Most of the gyms are in Bangkok and the Northeastern provinces (“Isaan”), but there are gyms from the North and Southern regions included in the list as well:

Central Thailand:

Anuwat Gym Meenayothin FA Group Wor. Arucha Sasiprapa Numponthep Samart Payakaroon (Poptheeratham) Luksuan 13 Coins Wor. Wang Phrom Nor. Naksin Sitthepprathan Sitcharoensap Sor. Wisetkit Tor. Surat Ayothaya Fight Gym Lukklongtan Southern Thailand : Sakwichian Sor. Chaicharoen Kiatichaiyut Por. Petchmakong Sakpinyo Sitkrunoch Kiatnadee Erawan Rawai Muay Thai Singhsorram Northeastern Thailand Kiatmoo9 Santi Ubon Eung Ubon Gratiemwitaya School Kiatfalikhit Sittongbon Janwitgausrang T-Ded Lo Ngern Sor. Jitphrasert Sitdaukjit Gor. Kantiwong Prae Tongcharoenyon Sitjekan Lukjaomaesaitong Sitkrupian Wor. Wattana Wandeekaset Northern Thailand : Kiatchatchai

It’s with confidence to say that what Petchyindee Academy is doing at this time is being received with much gratitude. Some gym owners have used the money to send their trainers some money, as they’re out of work. Others are most likely going to use the money for rent and up-keeping the gym, with some of it going to the fighters and trainers.

Boat included in the latest post that if any other gyms in the country need financial assistance during this time, they can request for help by providing the gym name and related documents to confirm the owner’s identity and bank account number (to prevent fraud). This means that there will be an updated list of gyms he will or has helped.

During this difficult time, we need more people like Boat in this world, who are in a better position than the rest of us and are willing to help lift others up.

Edit April 2: Petchyindee has helped these gyms and organizations, in addition to the ones mentioned before:

Isaan Tractor – 5,000 baht

Sor. Thanyalak (Denapho, Petch Thailand) – 10,000 baht

Phayanon Gym – 10,000 baht

Thongnoi Village – 5,000 baht

Sit. Pha Rang – 10,000 baht

Sor. Phuangthong – 10,000 baht

Ajarn Yuthachai – 10,000 baht

Sit. Thailand – 10,000 baht

Petchtuangbay – 50,000 baht

Kiat Pattarapan – 10,000 baht

Bank Euro – 10,000 baht

Charinsak Co., Ltd. – 10,000 baht

Sit. Khunwasan – 10,000 baht

Ajarn Prasert – 10,000 baht

Chang Mongkol Sports Center – 5,000 baht

Muay Thai Bicycles – 10,000 baht