Nagoya:The Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand has announced a successful campaign for Thai athletes at the 20th Asian Games 'Aichi-Nagoya 2026' in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, with the team securing 18 gold medals, 13 silver, and 21 bronze, finishing 7th overall and first among ASEAN nations.
According to Thai News Agency, the Governor, Ms. Prodpran Samanmit, expressed satisfaction with the results, highlighting that the achievements exceeded their initial target of 15 gold medals. The Thai athletes impressed both local and Japanese fans, winning in both anticipated and unexpected events.
One notable performance came from "Bew" Puripol Boonsorn, who won gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter races, setting new Asian Games records and earning the Most Valuable Player award. "View" Kulavut Vitidsarn also made history by securing Thailand's first gold in men's singles badminton at the Asian Games. Additionally, Sofia Gale Montgomery earned a gold in sailing and secured a spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The competition saw 694 Thai athletes competing in 43 sports, with 307 events entered out of 469. The athletes managed to break 22 out of 69 records and improve 28, with a total of 153 medal-winning performances. Among the 355 first-time competitors, 61 secured medals.
The 18 gold medals were achieved across various sports, including Athletics, Teqball, Sepak Takraw, Sailing, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Equestrian, Esports, Jujitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, and Taekwondo. The Sports Authority of Thailand plans to distribute prize money to the athletes, coaches, and sports associations within a week following the event, as per the National Sports Development Fund guidelines.