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Mr Dakdae has a face for every season

By Tang Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-17 08:07

Bancha Khamthong(L) cheers for Thailand players during a wheelchair tennis event at the Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, Dec 15, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

GUANGZHOU - While people were shivering in Guangzhou's cold rain, a "four-faced crazy man" tried to warm them up with his outlandish clothes and stunning live show.

"Thailand susu (come on)! 'Nihao' (hello) China!" the guy kept saying while dancing away.

Bancha Khamthong, a professional cheerleader from Thailand, was wearing a three-face mask, a traditional Thai suit, a pair of Crocs and held a Thai flag!

Khamthong, who always had a big smile on his face, wore the mask which features a smiling face, a laughing face and an angry one, to give himself a 360 degree impressive look. He has named his specially made mask "Mr Dakdae".

Having been to three Olympic and four Asian Games, the crowd favorite said he came to the Guangzhou Asian Para Games with the simple aim of making people happy.

"Some people get serious after watching paralyzed athletes compete," he said. "I want everyone to enjoy the games and, when they see me, say, 'wow, who's that guy?'"

Khamthong has performed at the powerlifting, table tennis and volleyball stadiums during the Asian Para Games and is proud that his country bagged gold and silver medals in men's 1,500m T54 at Aoti Main Stadium.

"I am here to support Thailand's athletes," he said, "I have found all the events here to be very cool."

Khamthong arrived in Guangzhou in November and visited all of the stadiums during the Asian Games. He then spent two weeks in Hong Kong and Macao with Thai people there before returning for the Para Games.

The enthusiastic performer follows Thai athletes to different tournaments all over the world almost every month of the year and is a famous figure in his country.

"If you ask a Thai, 'Do you know Mr Dakdae?', most of them will say 'yes',"he said proudly.

China Daily