Veera Uppapong

Professor Veera Uppapong had two very different interests in life, the first studying mineral structures as a geologist, and the second as an accomplished sports shooter. Uppapong worked in the department of geology at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. He was the head of the laboratory where he would analysis the structure of minerals with high-magnification microscopes.

From 1971 to 1979 Uppapong represented Thailand in free pistol shooting at multiple international events. At the Asian Games he won a bronze medal in 1974 and a silver in 1978 in the 50 metres free pistol team event. In between his two medal-winning appearances at the Asian Games, Uppapong competed in the individual 50 metres free pistol at the 1976 Montréal Olympics. He finished in 45th place, however, out of 47 competitors who took part. For 20 years Uppapong was a senior writer for the publication Firearms Magazine and founded the shooting club “Free Pistol Club”.