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4/12/11 3:12 PM | Johan Lindahl
Paradorn Srichaphan looks to the political arena after pro-tennis retirement.
Paradorn Srichaphan once ruled at the top of Asian tennis, when the Thai won five titles and broke into the ATP Top 10. Now, after officially announcing his retirement last summer due to injury, the 31-year-old now wants to try the same in the brutal world of Bangkok politics.
The recently separated Paradorn has announced that he wants to run for parliament with a brief of trying to boost sport in a country known mainly for Thai boxing, beaches and great cuisine.
One-time No. 9 Paradorn has had a variety of career since winding down from tennis following a wrist injury in spring, 2007, which basically ended his career. Since then, he's raced motorcycles (that ended with a pair of wrist injuries), opened an Italian restaurant and tried various other sponsorship enterprises.
Now, he's joined a new political part closely affiliated with British-educated prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. "I want to use my knowledge and capabilities to solve problems and help sport in the country," he told media after advising that he hopes to contest a Bangkok election in June or July.
"If I can be useful for the country, I would be happy. So I would like to put sport on the national agenda." Paradorn was the first Asian man into the ATP Top 10 in 2003. The Bangkok-based former player already has high name recognition in the nation.
Paradorn, who recently got a degree Political Science in his hometown, said his abrupt change of career was his own choice. "It's my own idea to go into politics. I served the country by playing tennis for the national team and now I would like to be of service in a new area.
"I want to turn sport into a national issue and as a former tennis pro, I know what the significant factors are that athletes need to achieve their goals."
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