Teams from 9 countries participated in the inaugural Queen Sirikit Cup in 1979 in Thailand.
Organizing Committee from Thailand Ladies Golf Association with Mom Kobkaew Abhakara as Chairperson. T he history of the Queen Sirikit Cup—officially known now as the
Amateur Ladies Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship—is very much a part of the history of Thailand Ladies Golf Association which was registered in February 1979, under the chairmanship of Mom Kobkaew Abhakara. One of the Association’s founders, Rae-Vadee T. Suwan, came up with the idea to launch a national team championship in view of the fact that no international ladies’ event existed in the region at that time. It was felt that lady golfers with great potential but insufficient financial resources could not go very far in their game. They should be given a chance to play at a higher level and accomplish more for themselves and their countries. Through the championship, a higher standard of the game could be raised and more friendships could be formed.
Hence a proposal was sent to the national golf association of 14 countries including Thailand, namely, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand to send a team of 3 players to launch the national team championship in Bangkok, Thailand. Of the 14 countries invited, nine countries answered the call and sent their teams to play in the inaugural event, known then as the “Amateur Ladies Asian Invitational Golf Team Championship”.
Mom Kobkaew Abhakara was instrumental in requesting the challenge trophy from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand who graciously granted Her permission to have the trophy named in Her honour as the “Queen Sirikit Cup”. The Queen Sirikit Cup is a beautifully handcrafted silver trophy and the exact replica in smaller scale is ordered for the champion team each year. |
