PARANANG Orawan

Grip
Shakehand (ITTF, 05 Mar 2021)

Style of play
Attack (ITTF, 05 Mar 2021)

General
EARLY STRUGGLES
She grew up in Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand and as a child was transported on 100-kilometre round trips to compete in table tennis tournaments on the back of her father's motorcycle. The family worked in farming and she has repaid their support by sending them her prize money from the sport to help pay for their house and a car. "My father took me on a motorcycle to competitions because we didn't have a car. For each round trip, the distance was more than 100 kilometres and sometimes my mother wanted to come and cheer as well, so the motorcycle would be stacked with the three of us together. I was very happy when I started winning money for my family." (stadiumth.com, 14 Mar 2021; siamsport.co.th, 30 Mar 2020)

OCCUPATION
She works in the Signal Department of the Royal Thai Army, where she has held the rank of sergeant since 2016. (Facebook profile, 01 Apr 2021; siamsport.co.th, 30 Mar 2020)

In 2018 she and Suthasini Sawettabut became the first Thai players to claim gold at an ITTF Challenge Series or World Tour event, when they won the women's doubles at the Thailand Open Challenge Series event in Bangkok. (ittf.com, 05 Jul 2020)