However, Thailand has failed to obtain higher achievements in and global records.
It was only after ten days, when many had almost lost hope of finding them, that two British divers finally came across the boys sheltered on a shelf deep in the cave.
In 2013, Pölking was appointed by the as the head coach.
They smiled, some widely, some more shyly, at the audience of hundreds who had gathered to hear their account of the drama for the first time.
Defending champions Vietnam are in Group B with Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos.
The boys confirmed that they will be entering into the Buddhist monkhood as a way of paying tribute to the former Seal, Saman Kunan, who died during the rescue operation.