Parents Question Taekwondo Selection After Champion Made Reserve for Brazil Games
Parents are challenging the Department of Physical Education's selection process for Thailand's Taekwondo team at the World School Games in Brazil after a decorated athlete was named a reserve instead of a starter. Pornphat Saengsi, who won gold at the 45th National Student Games and previously competed for the national team, was passed over despite meeting all published criteria. The viral Facebook post alleges the selection was predetermined and calls for transparency in the process.
A Facebook post by user "Duangjai Khong Chan Naja Nene" has gone viral, raising questions about the Department of Physical Education's selection of Taekwondo athletes in the 49 kg weight class for the World School Games in Brazil. The controversy centers on Pornphat Saengsi, a Taekwondo athlete from Phra Narai School, who was designated as a reserve despite an impressive record. The post states that if officials intended to select specific athletes, they should not have published an open selection announcement. The attached announcement specified that eligible athletes must have placed 1st or 2nd in various competitions with official certificates, and the selection committee's decision would be final. The parent wrote: "Correct but not satisfactory. If you're going to pick your preferred child, you shouldn't have announced the selection." The post lists Pornphat's achievements: 1) Gold medal at the Department of Physical Education Inter-School Games on September 7, 2025; 2) Gold medal at the 45th National Student Games; 3) Certificate from the Taekwondo Association of Thailand; 4) Ranked 1st in the 46-49 kg weight class ranking. The parent accused officials of staging the selection for personal gain and demanded they stop using children's abilities and spirits as tools for their own benefit. Pornphat won gold at the 45th National Student Games ("Buriram Games") in the 44-46 kg category in February 2026, previously made the Thai national team for the 2026 World Junior Taekwondo Championships in Uzbekistan in April 2026, and earned a silver medal at the 4th Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2022.
