Balangk Misses Asian Taekwondo Championship Medal, Secures 4 Quota Spots for Asian Games
Thailand's taekwondo team secured four quota spots for the 2026 Asian Games despite a disappointing performance at the Asian Championships in Mongolia, with champion Yu Balangk missing a medal in the men's 68kg category.
The 2026 Asian Taekwondo Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia wrapped up on May 24, with the top eight finalists earning spots at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya-Aichi, Japan. Thailand's five-member team included world and Southeast Asian Games champion Yu Balangk in the men's 68kg category, who defeated Iran 2-0 in the round of 16 (6-0, 3-2) but fell to China's Chen Youtan 1-2 in the bronze medal round (6-4, 3-12, 4-4 on points). Despite the loss, Balangk secured his Asian Games qualification. Teammate Biu Thanapoom Fueang-noi, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in the 63kg class, lost in the round of 16 to Uzbekistan's Tukuliboyev Diyorbek 1-2 (12-8, 5-11, 4-5). In the women's 62kg, former champion Bai Tey Sasisakhan fell to Iran's Valine Yalda (2-8, 8-8, 12-14) in the round of 16. Kanom Jib Natthakamol Watstana (57kg) defeated Vietnam's Cham Nkok Pham 2-0 in round one but lost to Olympic and former champion Kim Yu-jin of South Korea 0-2 (5-11, 5-15). Tamang Thanathor Saejor (80kg) fell to Jordan's Mohammad Aladdarbi 0-2 (5-8, 0-12). Thailand's taekwondo team finished with one silver medal and qualified four athletes for the Asian Games across the 49kg women's, 58kg, 68kg, and 80kg men's divisions. Head coach Chatchai Che expressed disappointment with the single silver medal, pledging renewed training for Asian Games gold.
