Thai Cycling Chief Plans New Riders for 2028 Olympics
Thai cycling leader General Decha Muik announced a plan to develop new riders and accumulate points for Olympic 2028 qualification after the national team’s medal‑less performance at the 2022 Asian Games. He said coaches Chanthapeng and Jutatip, who have completed UCI training, will take full charge of the teams, aiming for a strong showing at the 2025 SEA Games in Malaysia. The program will also promote young talent in mountain bike, BMX, road and track cycling under US coach Robert Herbert.
General Decha Muik outlined the Thai Cycling Association’s roadmap after the 20th Asian Games, where the national team failed to win any medals due to incidents such as Sergeant Komet Sukprasert being knocked out in the BMX final and the men’s sprint team false‑starting and crashing. He highlighted the progress of newcomers like Sergeant Poonsiri Sirimongkol, Pongpheera Phongayukul, Pinphak Chiangsuwan and Pornphak Prahothang in mountain bike, and rising BMX stars Phutthaphum Nakpaen and Hathaiphet Chaisawang, whose improvement has been guided by American coach Robert Herbert. The association will concentrate on earning Olympic qualification points for the 2028 Los Angeles Games during 2025‑2026, while developing new athletes for road, track, mountain bike and BMX disciplines. It will also promote coaches who have completed the UCI Level 3 course — Police Lieutenant Jutatip Maneephan for short‑track and Police Lieutenant Chanthapeng Nontasin for women’s road — to lead the teams, with the immediate goal of a strong performance at the 2025 SEA Games in Malaysia.
