BANGKOK, Thailand — In less than a month, eight nations will converge on IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, the site of the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union (APLU) ASPAC2015 Lacrosse Championship in Bangkok, Thailand. Many countries in the nine-member APLU, the regional governing body of lacrosse in the Asia and Oceania regions, will be competing for Gold, Silver, Bronze medals – and the ASPAC trophy. The tournament will include both men’s and women’s championships and will run from July 4th through July 11th, 2015 with free admission throughout for the public.
All of the games will be played at the Muangthong United Football Club state-of-the-art soccer practice facility compound at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani – the long time strategic partner of Thailand Lacrosse Association (TLA) and host of ASPAC2015.
The ASPAC Lacrosse Championship has grown significantly after the inaugural event in 2004, subsequently in 2005 and every two years thereafter. The most recent ASPAC Lacrosse Championship, held in Beijing, China in 2013, saw the arrival of host China, Thailand and Singapore as new participants in the event. Malaysia will be playing for the first time as the new addition for ASPAC2015, adding to an ever-growing field of competitors.
Tom Hayes
Stan Cockerton
Along with the arrival of Malaysia, there will be a few more “firsts” for the ASPAC Lacrosse Championship history books. For the first time ever, Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) board members will be attending the event. Stan Cockerton, FIL President, and Tom Hayes, FIL Director of Development, will be observing the competition, meeting the delegates from all of the nations in attendance and discussing the goal of the FIL’s Olympic aspirations. They will also discuss the FIL planning and progress towards regionalization, which is seen as an evolving step in the growth of the FIL membership and the move towards IOC recognition.
Other firsts will be the introduction of “Player of the Match” jerseys for each game played and a “Most Valuable Player” of the tournament award to be presented by the APLU at the end of the championship. These “firsts” are all part of an effort to elevate the standards and international awareness of APLU’s biennial ASPAC regional lacrosse championship.
Mike Slattery
APLU’s President Mike Slattery had this to say about ASPAC2015, “The APLU is delighted that the Thailand Lacrosse Association (TLA) are hosting this event so capably and effectively and in so doing promoting and sponsoring lacrosse competition in our Asia Pacific region and internationally. We have eight men’s and six women’s national teams competing with 33 officials from nine nations adjudicating over this biennial APLU competition. Let the games begin.”
Tom Hayes, FIL Director of Development, commented, “The Asia-Pacific area has seen the fastest growth of lacrosse in the last five years. The FIL congratulates the individuals and the APLU in spearheading this expansion.” FIL President Stan Cockerton added, “It is fitting that these countries celebrate this growth by coming together in Bangkok, Thailand for the ASPAC tournament hosted by the Thailand Lacrosse Association.”
SCG Stadium in Bangkok is the 25,000-seat home stadium venue for the Muangthong United Football Club and Thai national lacrosse team at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
ASPAC2015 will be the largest championship event ever hosted by the TLA, surpassing the “SIngha Battles in Bangkok” tournament in 2013 that included teams from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. The opening ceremony and opening game will be played at SCG Stadium, a 25,000-seat venue serving as the Thai national team’s home stadium facility for the last five years. The opening game will feature host Thailand and Japan, the ASPAC2013 tournament champion.
“It is an honor for Thailand, the TLA, and myself to have an opportunity to host the ASPAC2015 in Bangkok next month. I would like to thank the APLU for their vote of confidence.”
—Prantarit Nerngchamnong, TLA President
Prantarit (Payu) Nerngchamnong with Thailand men’s national team head coach, Andy German at the 2014 Men’s World Championship in Denver, CO. © TLA
Prantarit Nerngchamnong, TLA President, looks forward to hosting the championship. “The event is an exciting culmination of the first five years of the TLA. During that short period of time, I have seen the sport grow in Thailand and beyond its borders. With the efforts of our players, I saw the team win the bronze medal at our first ASPAC Championship in 2013. In 2014, I was thrilled to be a part of a successful first time appearance for Thailand at the FIL Men’s World Championship in Denver. It is only fitting that the day of the opening ceremony for ASPAC2015 in Bangkok also marks the fifth-year anniversary of the day we received an e-mail from the FIL confirming our membership and our first ever game as a Thailand national team.” In closing, Nerngchamnong added, “I am humbled and appreciate all the help and support the FIL has given us along the way. To have Stan and Tom here with us on that historic night in Bangkok will be a very special treat for the TLA and the APLU.”
ASPAC2015 participating nations are Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. India, Taiwan and New Zealand will have delegates in attendance for the APLU General Assembly meeting on July 8th.
Men’s Schedule
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Women’s Schedule
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For more information contact: Minway Chi, ASPAC2015 Tournament Director at minway.chi@gmail.com
Sources of additional information:
ASPAC2015 Championship – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASPAC2015
ASPAC2015 Championship – Twitter: https://twitter.com/aspac2015
Thailand Lacrosse Association – Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThailandLacrosse
Thailand Lacrosse Association – Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thailand_Lax
Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union – Official Website: https://www.asiapacificlacrosse.org/
APLU ASPAC Championship: https://www.asiapacificlacrosse.org/aspac-championships/
IMPACT Muang Thong Thani: https://www.impact.co.th
About the APLU
The Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union (APLU) is responsible for the governance and integrity of all forms of lacrosse and provides responsive and effective leadership to support the sports’ development throughout the Asia Pacific region. Countries in Central, Eastern, Southern, Southeastern and Western Asia, and in Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia geographically define the Asia Pacific region. The APLU will foster growth opportunities and provide support to lacrosse organizations and followers within the Asia Pacific region. The APLU currently has nine member nations and is a recognized and chartered regional body by the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL).
