No matter how badly he plays, Paradorn Srichaphan doesn't need to worry about losing his appeal among Thai fans. After all, it's not like there are any other top Thai players to take his place. But it's definitely a sign of how much he's struggled since his breakthrough season of 2003 when the local paper refers to how Srichaphan "has performed dismally this season" in a piece that's meant to be positive.
From The Nation: Paradorn remains popular
Although Paradorn Srichaphan has performed dismally this season, the fans are still avid in their support of Thailand’s most celebrated sports figure who’s starring in the US$550,000 Thailand Open. As rain fell, long queues formed at the bus stop to catch buses to the Muang Thong Thani arena, while those with private cars have come from all over the country even petrol is almost Bt30 a litre. Then there’s the cost of the tickets - they start at Bt500, but that doesn’t seem to be deterring people.
It’s not uncommon to chat with someone who has quietly slipped away from work for a few hours, or students who find studying Paradorn’s form is more interesting. At the front gate, spectators who weren’t able to get tickets watch the televised game on a big screen positioned in front of the stadium.