Aichi-Nagoya:A summary of the Thai athletes' performance at the 2026 Asian Games shows they won a total of 18 gold medals, exceeding expectations by 4 gold medals and setting a new record for the most medals won abroad.
According to Thai News Agency, before competing in the 2026 Asian Games, the 46 sports associations aimed for a combined total of 14 gold medals. However, after the Aichi-Nagoya Games, the Thai team swept a total of 18 gold medals, exceeding their target by 4 gold medals and also setting a new record for the most medals won abroad.
With 18 gold medals, 13 silver medals, and 21 bronze medals, they not only finished 7th in the medal table but also ranked 1st in ASEAN. Furthermore, Thai athletes broke records in 22 out of 69 events they competed in. Of the 355 new athletes participating in the Asian Games for the first time, 61 won medals, representing 17.18 percent.
Associations that exceeded their targets include Jujitsu, which hoped for one gold medal but achieved one gold and two bronze, and Taekwondo, which hoped for one gold medal but obtained one gold, one silver, and three bronze. Athletics aimed for 1 gold medal, but won 3 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze. Sailing hoped for 1 gold, but got 2 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze. Equestrian achieved 1 gold and 1 silver. Badminton secured 1 gold and 1 bronze. Volleyball aimed for a top 3 finish but won a gold medal in women's beach volleyball and a bronze in the women's indoor event.
While the taekwondo association achieved its announced target of 3 gold medals, the esports association, which announced 1 gold medal, also achieved its target. Some associations that didn't aim for medals but surprisingly won some include MMA, which secured a gold medal through Kanjuta Pataraboonsorn; table tennis, which won a bronze medal in the women's doubles through Suthasinee Sawatbut and Orawan Paranang; and skeet shooting, which surprisingly won a silver medal through Isarapha Imprasertsuk.
However, while the overall medal count exceeded expectations, a deeper analysis of each sports association revealed some underperforming. For example, Kurash aimed for one gold medal but only achieved one bronze; Golf hoped for one gold but only obtained one bronze; and Sepak Takraw aimed for four gold medals but only won two and two silver, falling short of their targets. Tennis, judo, extreme sports, and wrestling were among the sports expected to win medals, but boxing was not. It was believed that medals would be won in every color category, but only one gold medal was secured by Natthanicha Jongprongklang. These missed targets are the responsibility of the sports associations to evaluate, analyze, and improve upon in the future.
Of the 52 medals won at this Asian Games, gold medalists will receive 2 million baht from the National Sports Development Fund, silver medalists 1 million baht, and bronze medalists 500,000 baht. The Thai government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the National Sports Development Fund, and the Sports Authority of Thailand, is ready to proceed with the awarding of prize money within 7 days to encourage and motivate those who have contributed to Thailand's achievements.