Honorary Consul of Hungary in Phuket receives Hungary’s highest honour
Honorary Consul of Hungary in Phuket receives a top Hungarian honour, recognising his role in strengthening Thai-Hungarian ties and taking Teqball to the world stage.
On 16 June 2025, on the 19th floor of the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket, the Embassy of Hungary in Thailand held a ceremony to present the Knight’s Cross, one of the grades of the Hungarian Order of Merit, to Mr Thanusak Phuengdet, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Phuket and Executive Chairman of J.D. Pools Co., Ltd. H.E. Dr Sandor Sipos, Ambassador of Hungary to Thailand, presented the medal on behalf of H.E. Mr Tamás Sulyok, President of the Republic of Hungary.
Congratulations were also offered by Mr Sopon Suwannarat, Governor of Phuket. Representatives of Phuket’s public and private sectors, Mr Kongsak Khuphongsakorn, President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, and Mr Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, President of the Phuket Sports Association, joined in presenting a plaque of honour to the Ambassador of Hungary, recognising his role in building ties between Phuket and Hungary, especially through the project to display a statue of Ferenc Puskás, the legendary Hungarian footballer, at Saphan Hin Public Park. The Ambassador congratulated Mr Thanusak Phuengdet, Honorary Consul of Hungary, also known as “Knight Thanusak”, and praised the Honorary Consul’s dedicated service over the past four years, during which he has not only promoted business relations between the two countries but also played a key role in making Teqball, a sport of Hungarian origin, widely known in Phuket and across Thailand.
The Hungarian Order of Merit is the fourth-highest honour in the country. It was first established in 1922 during the Kingdom of Hungary and is divided into civil and military divisions, with the Knight’s Cross being the first grade of the civil division. The atmosphere at the event was warm, with representatives from many sectors of the province joining in congratulations on this distinguished evening. In the evening, guests also enjoyed local arts and culture performances, including Manora dance and a bartender show by students of Phuket Vocational College, along with fine dining accompanied by live music, closing the evening of honour with the strong friendship between the two nations.
