Maneepong Jongjit
Quick Facts
Biography
Maneepong Jongjit (Thai: มณีพงศ์ จงจิตร, rtgs: Maniphong Chongchit; born 21 March 1991 in Phuket) is a badminton player from Thailand.
Maneepong Jongjit began to attract attention when he competed as a junior with Bodin Issara in Men's Doubles. Together they made the transition to Doubles as senior competitors. Their top result came at the 2012 India Open where they defeated Ko Sung-hyun and Yoo Yeon-seong in the final. Maneepong Jongjit and Bodin Issara competed together at the London 2012 Olympics, where they lost in the quarter final.
After Maneepong and Bodin split up in January 2013, Maneepong continued competing in Men's Doubles with a new partner, Nipitphon Puangpuapech. The pair reached the final of the 2013 Canada Open Grand Prix, facing Maneepong's former partner Bodin Issara and Bodin's new partner Pakkawat Vilailak. Maneepong and Nipitphon were awarded the victory as their opponents were disqualified after a brawl broke out between the former partners. Maneepong and Nipitphon won the 2014 U.S. Open, defeating Denmark's Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen.
After returning from suspension in October 2013, Jongjit resumed his partnerships in men's doubles with Puangpuapech and in mixed doubles with Sapsiree Taerattanachai. He continued to compete internationally until late 2014. He was entered in several tournaments in 2015, reforming his partnership with Bodin Issara but withdrew each time due to an injury to his shoulder, which finally led to him announcing his retirement in November 2015.
Controversy
On 21 July 2013, Jongjit and his former partner, Bodin Issara had a brawl during the change of ends of the men's doubles finals at the 2013 Canadian Open Grand Prix. Jongjit, who was partnered with Nipitphon Puangpuapech, met Issara and his new partner, Pakkawat Vilailak in the finals. The former partners who had unresolved issues with each other prior to the match started abusing each other vocally during the first game. This led Issara to begin chasing down Jongit across the arena. As an act of self-defense while running away from Issara, Jongit swung his badminton racquet to the side of Issara's head causing his right ear to bleed and require stitches. Issara eventually caught up with Jongit, who fell to the floor on the adjacent court, and began hitting, punching and kicking him. The two were eventually broken up by Issara's partner and their coach. As a result, both players received a sanction from the Badminton World Federation and from the Badminton Association of Thailand. Issara, the more physically abusive one among the two, was banned for 2 years from participating in any international tournaments. Jongjit, who provoked Issara during the match, was banned for 3 months. In addition, Issara and Vilailak received a black card during the event meaning disqualification from the tournament and the tournament victory was awarded to Jongjit and Puangpuapech.
Record Against Selected Opponents
Men's Doubles results with Bodin Issara against Super Series finalists, World Championships semifinalists, and Olympic quarterfinalists.
- Chai Biao & Guo Zhendong 0–2
- Cai Yun & Fu Haifeng 0–1
- Fang Chieh-min & Lee Sheng-mu 0–2
- Jonas Rasmussen & Mads Conrad-Petersen 1–1
- Muhammad Ahsan & Bona Septano 1–1
- Angga Pratama & Ryan Agung Saputra 2–0
- Hirokatsu Hashimoto & Noriyasu Hirata 1–0
- Jung Jae-sung & Lee Yong-dae 0–2
- Ko Sung-hyun & Yoo Yeon-seong 3–0
- Choong Tan Fook & Lee Wan Wah 0–1
- Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif & Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari 0–1
- Koo Kien Keat & Tan Boon Heong 0–2
- Adam Cwalina & Michał Łogosz 1–0
- Howard Bach & Tony Gunawan 1–0