Coach Che Leads Thai Taekwondo Team's Charge for Asian Championship Gold, Eyes Olympic Qualification
Thailand's 15-member taekwondo team competes at the Asian Championships in Mongolia this week aiming to secure Olympic qualification spots for the Asian Games in Japan. Head coach Chatchai Che's delegation seeks at least one gold medal and
Thailand's taekwondo team is competing at the 2026 Asian Taekwondo Championships from May 21-24 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Head coach Chatchai Che is leading a full-strength 15-member delegation featuring competitors in multiple weight divisions. Thai Taekwondo Association secretary general Thanadid Raksabut emphasized the championship's significance as a qualifying tournament for the 20th Asian Games in Japan later this year, requiring at least a semifinal appearance to secure spots. The athletes have undergone intensive training with no injuries reported, and both coaching staff and athletes expressed confidence in their physical and mental readiness. Coach Che noted the team previously competed at the Turkish Open with strong results, and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus without pressure while aiming for at least one gold medal and more than three Asian Games quotas. The coaching staff has been preparing athletes since January for the new ruleset changes. World champion Ballanngk Thapthimaedang, competing in the 68kg men's division, shared that he won silver at last year's Asian Championships and is now targeting gold this year. He acknowledged that Thailand's reputation means other nations study their techniques and style, making it necessary to continuously improve while addressing weaknesses. He added that the team has already trained and competed under the new rules at the Turkish Open and feels comfortable with the changes.
