Tactical Airsoft Competition Draws Young Marksmen at National Youth Games, with Competitors as Young as 6 Years Old
Tactical airsoft shooting debuted as an official medal sport at Thailand's National Youth Games in Surat Thani, attracting 196 competitors from 30 provinces, including participants as young as 6 years old. The competition featured 15 gold m
Action Air IPSC Handgun tactical airsoft shooting made its official debut as a medal sport at the 41st National Youth Games "Surat Thani Games" held in Surat Thani Province. The competition transitioned from exhibition status and features 15 gold medals across individual male and female categories—Super Junior (age 14 and under) and Junior (age 18 and under)—plus team events in three divisions: Open, Standard, and Production. A total of 196 athletes from 30 provinces participated in the finals on May 17, 2026, with General Perm Puangsarojn, chairman of the Tactical Airsoft Association, and Kansini Opassarangsarn, a Member of Parliament representing Surat Thani's District 1, presiding over the medal ceremonies.
General Perm highlighted that this marks the first time tactical airsoft shooting has been included as a medal sport at the National Youth Games. The association selected Action Air—a lightweight air-powered pistol competition—for its suitability in developing youth skills, high safety standards, and feasibility for indoor venues. He noted that the competition attracted record-young participants, including 6-year-old competitors Teerachat Majchakham from Chiang Mai and Krittpas Thanaseresttawi from Phuket, as well as 7-year-old Sutheema Phusuwan from Bangkok. Eight-year-old Pongpon Khuethanapon earned the youngest medal, claiming a silver in the Standard team division representing Nakhon Pathom Province.
Given the overwhelming interest and participation, the association plans to introduce live firearm competitions in future events. Gold medal winners in the Open division included Kannawech Puekphum (Surat Thani, Junior Men) and Anda Jonmee (Saraburi, Junior Women), while Standard division champions were Nopsuwan Kanjanthrankur (Bangkok, Junior Men) and Phattarathida Makkaew (Bangkok, Junior Women). In the Production division, Pornkiat Suthapradeach (Phetchaburi, Junior Men) and Kanyarat Prasertcharoen (Bangkok, Junior Women) took gold. Team gold medals went to Saraburi (Open), Bangkok (Production), and Bangkok (Standard).
