Thai badminton star falls into decline after being addicted to milk tea and fried rice

At the peak of his career, Thailand's number 1 badminton player - Kunlavut Vitidsarn suddenly encountered a strange "barrier" related to his passion for eating.

Kunlavut is getting heavier and heavier - Photo: BWF

Kunlavut is too heavy

According to information from BWF, many Thai badminton fans were shocked to discover Kunlavut Vitidsarn's current weight. He is 1.77m tall and weighs 85kg.

This is a higher weight compared to many male singles players of the same stature competing in the international tournament system.

In badminton, where players are constantly on the move, requiring high speed and endurance, being even 3-5kg overweight can significantly affect their ability to maneuver, move deep or defend at the back of the court.

And could that be the factor that is causing Kunlavut to struggle for form? Very likely.

During the period from August 2024 to June 2025, Kunlavut climbed to the top of badminton with the world No. 1 position, becoming the pride of Thailand.

But in the next 4 months, Kunlavut's performance was not as expected. He was eliminated early in 3 consecutive major tournaments: Japan Open (Super 750), China Open (Super 1000) and China Masters (Super 750).

Even in lesser tournaments like the Arctic Open last week, Kunlavut could not win despite being seeded number 1.

As a result, at the present time, the Thai tennis player has dropped to 3rd place in the world. Overall, he is not too bad, but is showing signs of decline after reaching the top.

Coincidentally, Kunlavut's decline coincided with his weight gain. Thai media reported that in early 2024, Kunlavut's weight was only about 75kg.

In just one year, Kunlavut gained a total of 10kg. With his current height and weight, Kunlavut's BMI is 27.1, which means he is in the "overweight" group.

To escape the overweight group, Kunlavut must reduce his weight to under 78kg. And this is not a small barrier for a "milk tea and fried rice addict" like Thailand's number 1 tennis player.

Should professional athletes drink milk tea?

In Thailand, popular foods such as bubble tea and greasy fried rice are widely consumed, and many young athletes can easily fall into the habit of eating a lot of sugar and starch if not strictly controlled.

Sports nutritionists say a regular cup of bubble tea can contain 300-500 kcal, or even more if toppings and sugar are added.

Fried rice, especially when prepared with oil and fatty meat, is also high in calories, averaging 600-800 kcal per portion. For a badminton player, who has a high energy expenditure but also needs to maintain a low body fat ratio for flexible movement, such a high-calorie diet, if not carefully controlled, can lead to rapid weight gain.

Image of Kunlavut eating fried rice shared by Loh Kean Yew - Photo: INSTAGRAM

“Badminton is a sport that requires flexibility and quick reflexes, so the ideal weight is usually lower than average. A 1.77m tall athlete should usually maintain a weight of about 70-75kg if he wants to optimize speed and endurance,” said Dr. Somchai R., a sports doctor and nutritionist in Bangkok, in an article about badminton athletes’ physique.

Being overweight can directly affect performance on the court. Firstly, it increases the burden on the knees and ankles - two of the most injury-prone parts of a badminton player.

Second, movement speed, especially the ability to accelerate in defensive phases at the end of the field or cross-field counterattacks, will decrease significantly as body fat percentage increases.

Finally, overall fitness can decline more rapidly in 3-set matches where a difference of just 1-2 points can decide victory.

Kunlavut’s passion for milk tea and fried rice has long been an interesting topic in the badminton world. Singaporean tennis player Loh Kean Yew once shared on social media that during a trip to Thailand, Kunlavut took him to a local restaurant.

While Loh Kean Yew chose to have a drink, Kunlavut ate... fried rice. Although it was just a happy behind-the-scenes photo, many Thai fans couldn't help but worry about their country's star.

HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/me-tra-sua-va-com-chien-ngoi-sao-cau-long-thai-lan-sa-sut-20251016112703824.htm