Thai Boxers Advance to Quarterfinals at 2026 Asian Games
Thai boxers Natthanicha Jongprongklang and Sakkida Ruamtham advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2026 Asian Games amateur boxing tournament in Japan, winning unanimous decisions on September 25.
Thai boxer Natthanicha Jongprongklang delivered an impressive performance to defeat a Filipino opponent, and Sakkida Ruamtham also advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating an Iranian fighter at the 2026 Asian Games amateur boxing tournament held at Nichio Gymnasium in Japan on September 25.
In the women's 54-kilogram division round of 16, Natthanicha Jongprongklang, holder of the 2025 Asian Youth Amateur Boxing Championship gold medal, faced Filipino boxer Pussait Riza. Although the Filipino fighter attempted aggressive forward pressure, Natthanicha's precise defensive combinations and well-timed counters proved superior throughout all three rounds, securing a unanimous 5-0 points victory with scores of 30-27, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27, and 30-27 to advance to the quarterfinals.
In the men's 60-kilogram division round of 16, Thai boxer Sakkida Ruamtham from Nong Bua Lamphu province, who won gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games hosted by Thailand in 2025, faced Iranian boxer Danial Shahbakhsh, a silver medalist from the 2021 Asian Championships.
In the first round, Sakkida came out aggressively while Shahbakhsh attempted to control the outside and set his timing. The round ended with Sakkida leading 4-1. In the second round, Shahbakhsh was forced to press forward in search of points. Sakkida switched tactics to focus on defense and countered with powerful combinations, maintaining a 4-1 lead. In the third round, Shahbakhsh accelerated the pace significantly, but his strikes often missed their mark, while Sakkida patiently waited for his moments, landing precise right-hand counters consistently. Sakkida won all three rounds 4-1 on points and advanced to the quarterfinals, where he will face Jang Dong Hwan of South Korea.
