Nagoya:Bangkok The Thai Paralympic team delivered an impressive performance at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, held in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, finishing 7th overall and reclaiming the top spot in ASEAN. The team secured a total of 19 gold, 40 silver, and 66 bronze medals, ranking just behind China, Japan, Uzbekistan, India, South Korea, and Iran.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Proadpran Samanmit, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), expressed her admiration for the Thai athletes' dedication and fighting spirit throughout the competition. Although the team did not meet its target of 27 gold medals due to intense competition, the athletes' commitment was commendable, with over 70 percent of them winning medals and setting new records.
Highlighting the achievements, Athiwat Paengnuea set a world record in the men's 100-meter wheelchair racing T54 class, matching the record of Portugal's Balde Mamudo. Other sports, such as athletics and swimming, also witnessed record-breaking performances. Wisanu Huadpradit won his fifth consecutive gold medal in boccia, contributing to the Thai team's first-place finish in the sport. Notably, nearly half of the Thai para-athletes were newcomers, performing exceptionally well, including swimmer Nithikorn Jiamphiriyakul, who won two gold medals, two silver, and one bronze in his debut.
Ms. Proadpran noted that although some athletes narrowly missed victory in finals, the overall performance of the Thai team showed significant improvement compared to previous games. The experience gained is expected to enhance their skills and motivation for future competitions.
The SAT plans to support ongoing training camps to prepare athletes for the 2027 ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia and the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. Additionally, the National Sports Development Fund will host an awards ceremony within a week, offering prize money of 1,000,000 baht for gold medalists, 500,000 baht for silver medalists, and 250,000 baht for bronze medalists.