Sports Minister Sees Thailand Winning 13-15 Gold at Asian Games
Thailand's Sports Minister Surasak Phanphichayawongkul said the national team is on track to finish the 2026 Asian Games with 13-15 gold medals, praising athletes for bringing joy amid flood crises. After September 30, Thailand had secured 12 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals, ranking fifth overall. He added that even if some golds turn to silver, the performance remains excellent and has boosted morale nationwide.
The Thai sports contingent is entering the final stretch of the 20th Asian Games running from September 19 to October 4. As of September 30, the team has collected 12 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals, placing fifth in the overall standings. Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Phanphichayawongkul said the athletes' performance is excellent, mostly on target with only minor misses and a few surprise medals, noting that some golds may slip to silver, which is normal in competition. He expects the final tally to be around 13-15 gold, close to the goal of 15 set by the Sports Authority of Thailand, adding that exceeding 15 would be an overachievement while falling below 13 would miss the target. He praised the athletes for their dedication, saying their success brings happiness to Thais, especially during the flood crisis, and noted that even Japanese people have remarked on the team's strength, showing Thailand's progress in sports. He thanked all athletes, sports associations, the Sports Authority of Thailand and the National Olympic Committee, emphasizing that their achievements boost national morale and solidarity.
