SAT Chief Hails Thai Youth Athletes at Dakar Youth Olympics
Thailand's Sports Authority Governor Poramaporn Srimanmitr praised the nation's youth athletes at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, where 28 competitors in 11 sports won one silver and one bronze medal despite a new IOC quota system that reduced Thailand's traditional medal opportunities. The governor highlighted several rising stars in boxing, athletics, swimming, table tennis, and windsurfing who show potential for future senior national team selection.
Sports Authority of Thailand Governor Poramaporn Srimanmitr commended the fighting spirit of Thailand's youth athletes at the Youth Olympic Games, revealing that multiple rising stars have demonstrated the potential to step up to the senior national team in the future.
Governor Poramaporn Srimanmitr, head of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), disclosed the overall performance of Thailand's youth national team at the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, "Dakar 2026," held in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026. Thailand earned the right to send 28 athletes competing in 11 sports. She stated the overall picture is considered satisfactory, with clear positive development visible among Thai youth athletes, even though the context and conditions of this edition differ completely from the previous three Youth Olympic Games.
The SAT governor highlighted a key change: in previous editions, Thai athletes could compete in qualifiers and secure quotas in Thailand's strong sports, yielding high medal prospects. However, for "Dakar 2026," the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the host implemented a new system allocating quotas evenly across all nations, reducing quotas for every country — particularly affecting Thailand's traditional medal hopes such as weightlifting, taekwondo, and golf, which received no quotas this time, consequently diminishing Thailand's medal chances.
Governor Poramaporn added that the core spirit of the modern Youth Olympic Games focuses not solely on excellence or medal counts, but emphasizes participation and giving young athletes the invaluable experience of competing on the world stage. Meanwhile, the SAT provided comprehensive close support for this delegation, including sports science, nutrition, and the establishment of a "Thai House" to fully assist and facilitate the athletes.
"Although the medal tally may not match previous editions due to the new quota system constraints, what we clearly see is the fighting heart and potential of Thai youth who can compete fiercely with world-class opponents and are ready to become the core of the senior national team in the future. This time, several athletes have emerged across multiple sports — boxing, athletics, swimming, table tennis, and windsurfing, among others. The SAT must thank all athletes and officials who performed their duties to the utmost, and we are ready to leverage the data and experience from this event to further develop the next generation of athletes," Governor Poramaporn said.
Thailand's youth team at the 4th Youth Olympic Games captured a total of one silver and one bronze medal. The silver came from "Fluk" Siwa Chainarong in men's 60 kg boxing. The bronze came from "Frame" Thanakorn Daengmani in men's pole vault with a height of 4.85 meters, marking athletics' first-ever medal at the Youth Olympic Games for Thailand.
Additionally, "Norton" Thitiphath Prechanan and "Ploy" Kulphat Wijitwiriyakul in mixed doubles table tennis, "Ann" Natkrita Likitjak in women's 50m breaststroke swimming, and "Beau" Itthiphol Yamjinda in men's Techno 293 windsurfing all finished fourth in their respective events, narrowly missing the podium.
