Hand Bikes Build Quality Youth, Singapore Parents Praise Thai Standards

Surawut Cherdchai praised the Thailand Cycling Association for advancing hand bike sports as a health-promoting activity, noting that parents from Singapore traveled to Thailand to bring their daughters to compete and commended the country's high-standard event management. The third round of the Thailand National Children's Hand Bike Championship, held July 19, 2025, at Korat Hall in Central World Nakhon Ratchasima, was officially opened by Surawut Cherdchai and featured military officer Daecha Mekraksri, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation, president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation, and president of the Thailand Cycling Association, along with other officials. After the opening ceremony, Surawut expressed joy that parents from across Thailand brought their children to compete, highlighting benefits including improved children's health, quality development, reduced screen time, stronger family bonds, and economic stimulus for the province as over 2,000 participants boosted local hotels, restaurants, and shops. He noted that the association plans athlete development from ages 1.5 to 10 years old, building foundations for progression to BMX and other cycling disciplines, and credited Daecha Mekraksri for strengthening the association and elevating Thai cycling internationally. Joyce Chew, a Singapore resident who brought her daughter Quinny Tan to the competition after learning of it on the Thailand Cycling Association's Facebook page, praised the event's systematic organization, punctuality, professional standards, and excellent arrangements, noting that Thailand's competition level is larger, more standardized, and more professional than Singapore's. Grandmother Krishana Simcharoen, who came to cheer her granddaughter Nicha Timpatthum, observed the children's impressive abilities and noted that hand biking had improved her granddaughter's physical development, discipline, etiquette, and confidence compared to before.