Thai Cycling Team Gets Pep Talk Before Nagoya Asian Games
Thailand's cycling team heads to the Nagoya Asian Games with officials urging athletes to pursue medals, with strong medal prospects in both individual time trials and the men's road race against competition from Kazakhstan and Japan.
General Decha Hemkraisoree, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation, president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation, and president of the Thai Cycling Association, addressed Thailand's road cycling team on September 16, 2025, at the Thai Cycling Hall of Fame at Huamark Velodrome ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. He urged all cyclists to compete as they train, set good records, and bring victory back to Thailand, emphasizing that once on their bikes they should fear no one because the goal is to win medals. General Decha asked Thai sports fans to cheer on the four events: men's and women's individual time trials and men's and women's road races, with the road cycling team being the first to travel to Japan under manager Coach Tam Visuth Kasiyapat and head coach Coach Bass Phuchong Saiudomsil. Other cycling disciplines, including mountain biking, BMX, and track cycling, will follow later.
Coach Tam Visuth Kasiyapat said the team's training has been rigorous, with athletes training hard in sun and rain without hesitation. He identified strong competitors from Kazakhstan and host nation Japan, but expressed confidence in Thai cyclists' ability to compete well. He noted that Arthit Poolard in the men's individual time trial has a good chance of finishing in the top three, and Sergeant Major Petchdarin Somraj in the women's individual time trial has also shown strong times in training with similar medal prospects. In the men's road race, featuring Sergeant Sarawuth Sirinanchai, Lieutenant Pirapol Chawechiangkwang, and Sergeant Major Thanakar Chaiyarasmit, all three cyclists are well-prepared and could surprise observers with strong performances.
