A few hours after handing Japan a 3-0 defeat, the Thai players and their families packed a VIP room at Nai Klai karaoke and restaurant on Paholyothin Road.

Team captain Thanakorn Srichaphan put up with his players' "singing" for quite some time before taking over the mike for a rousing rendition of "Phu Chana Sib Thit" (The Conqueror of All).

His performance drew loud applause from everyone but it wasn't long before the players began reaching for the mike again. Among them was Danai Udomchoke, who was christened "the dominator of the mike", despite the fact that he seemed oblivious as to whether the others were enjoying his vocal abilities. - The Nation.

Longing to dream about snakes

Thai women say they are happy to dream about snakes, but they don't want to face them in real life.

Beach volleyball player Kamolthip Kulna longs to have such dreams.

"It is said that if we dream about a snake, we will find our lover sooner or later. That's why all Thai women want to dream such dreams. Unfortunately, I have never had such a dream, I just seem to come across real snakes," said Kamolthip during the Asian Beach Volleyball Invitation event, which concluded yesterday in Phatthalung.

"When we arrived at the Lumpum Resort Hotel on Saturday, a woman from the Volleyball Association of Thailand found a snake in her bedroom and could not help but scream. She later told the hotel receptionist to change her room. However, just a day later, the one she loves called her from Japan." - The Nation.

Listen to your trainer, very carefully

Amateur boxers usually obey their trainers' advice both in training time and during a bout. But if your opponent speaks the same language as you, how can you identify which one is from your corner?

In the semi-final of the bantamweight bout at the 28th King's Cup last week, it was an all-Korean affair, where Kim Won-guk of North Korea faced South Korea's Han Sang-su.

Surrounded by guidance from their trainers, the two Koreans apparently became confused as to which one they should follow. The misunderstanding manifested itself in the third round, where poor Sang-su was slapped by his trainer because he didn't do as he was told.

Won-guk took victory, thanks to being able to recognise the tone of his trainer's voice! - The Nation.

My wife thinks I'm weird: Becks

England soccer star David Beckham has revealed he is suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - the complaint which sparks bizarre and repetitive behaviour, The Mirror newspaper has reported.

"I have got this disorder where I have to have everything in a straight line or everything has to be in pairs," confessed the Real Madrid player in a TV interview.

"I'll put my Pepsi cans in the fridge and if there's one too many then I'll put it in another cupboard somewhere. I'll go into a hotel room and before I can relax I have to move all the leaflets and all the books and put them in a drawer." When asked if he had tried to overcome the illness Becks said: "I would like to. I have tried to and I can't stop."

The 30-year-old kept the condition a secret from his Real Madrid teammates after players at his previous club, Manchester United, played jokes on him by barging into his hotel room when they played away games.

"I thought they were just coming in for a chat. But then they'd go out of the room and I'm thinking: 'Something's different here.' And then all the magazines would be all wonky.

"They'd have been in my wardrobe and all my trousers and my shoes would be all over the place like this."

The midfield ace, who joined Real Madrid in July 2003, added: "They haven't found out about it yet at Madrid, which is a good thing."

Beckham said his wife Victoria, 31, thinks he's a "weirdo" because of his strange rituals. - The Nation.