Published on Oct 17, 2004

There is nothing Pichet Krungget wants more than for disabled people to have an opportunity to work and play sports in the same environment as other people.

Pichet, who has suffered from polio since he was six years old, has given the people who have offered him a chance little reason to regret offering their support to disabled people.

Last month, the 29-year-old won two golds at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens in the 4x100m and 4x400m men's wheelchair relay and a bronze in the 200m race.

"My goal in taking part in the Games was to show Thai society that disabled people have the potential to compete in the international arena. Thai society should be more open to us," he said.

The Phichit native said that the determination that had driven him to become a national athlete and participate in the Games had been inspired by a friend who had won a medal at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Australia.

"He inspired me to be an example for other disabled people, and I hope my success will encourage others," he said.

Prior to his medal-winning performance in Athens, Pichet had won a gold in the 4x100m wheelchair relay, a silver in the 400m race and bronzes in the 200m and 100m races in the World Wheelchair Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand last year.

Pichet also won three golds at the second Asean Para Games 2003 in Vietnam, where he was named one of the Games' most outstanding athletes.

"This success is more than I ever imagined. I never dreamt I would come this far. My ultimate dream was just getting a secure job and having a monthly salary to cover my family's expenses after I graduated," he said.

Pichet has a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the education faculty at Rajamangala Institute of Technology. After searching for a job for two years, Pichet's dream came true when officers of True Corporation visited Pak Kret Children's Home for the Disabled in Nonthaburi, where Pichet has lived since he finished primary school. They had come to provide lunch for the children living there and in the process got to know Pichet, which eventually led to an interview and finally a job offer.

He has been working as a customer-service agent at Asia Infonet, a subsidiary of True Corporation, for the past three years.

Pichet said that while training for the Paralympics he had had to leave his job for six months, though the company fully supported him by paying his full salary.

"I was so thrilled when I found out that the company would support me. Many of the other athletes had to quit their jobs to participate in the Games," he said.

Accordingly, anyone who has seen Pichet on the practice field will have noticed him representing his company with a red True T-shirt or a red cap.

While other Paralympians likely started their careers selling lottery tickets for the government, Pichet, who has a regular full-time job, plans to give away his ticket allotment to some of his disabled friends.

"Some of these people are highly educated, but they have never had the chance to work in an office and have to sell lottery tickets. I would have to do the same if I didn't have this job," he said.

Even though the government has awarded Pichet Bt2.4 million for his victories, his life has changed very little. He said he wanted to hold onto this money to pay for his two-year-old daughter's education.

Pichet rides his three-wheeled motorcycle to his office on Ratchadaphisek Road, where he fields 40-70 calls about Internet problems each day.

During the selection period for national athletes, Pichet dedicated all of his time to preparing for the competition. He had to reschedule his work to the evening shift and practised racing starting early each morning, leaving him little time to sleep or even to spend time with his daughter.

Tadsanaporn Amlustieans, Pichet's manager at Asia Infonet, described the athlete as quiet, considerate and very eager to learn. She said his English-language skills had developed to the point at which he could now serve foreign customers.

She added that Pichet's on-the-job performance was so impressive that the company had eventually transferred him to a department where he could bring his skills to bear on more complicated issues.

Pichet said he loved working at the call centre because he liked being able to help customers and the work suited him as he can sit all day.

"I'm happy to hear the words 'thank you'. I know that I'm valuable to others," he said.

Pichet added that though he would still like to represent Thailand in the next Paralympic Games he would have to see whether he was strong enough for the tough competition.

Theeranuch Pusaksrikit

The Nation