Thai Olympic Committee Praises Asian Games Success, Eyes SEA Games
Thai Olympic Committee officials celebrated Thailand's best-ever Asian Games haul of 18 gold, 13 silver and 21 bronze medals, highlighting sprinter Phuripol Bunson's historic Best Athlete award as the first for an ASEAN athlete. They urged the nation's 43 sports associations to intensify training camps for the upcoming SEA Games in Malaysia, noting that host Malaysia has already begun preparations. A shoe company, Baoji, will award cash bonuses to medalists at a ceremony on October 29.
The Thai Olympic Committee, led by Chairman Chaiyakit Sirivat, commended the achievements of Thailand's national athletes at the Asian Games and stressed the need to keep training for next year's SEA Games. Chaiyakit Sirivat, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, headed a press conference announcing the Thai team's success at the 20th Asian Games in Japan, held at the Olympic Committee headquarters (Baan Amphon) on October 8. Attending were Olympic Committee officials, representatives from various sports associations, and Thai athletes, led by 'Biew' Phuripol Bunson, the athletics star who earned this Asian Games' Best Athlete award. Chaiyakit expressed gratitude to the agencies, staff, athletes, coaches, and all involved for delivering 18 gold, 13 silver, and 21 bronze medals — Thailand's finest showing ever at an Asian Games held outside Thailand. He added that Phuripol's male Best Athlete award is a historic breakthrough for Thai and ASEAN sport, as no ASEAN athlete had previously won it. Moving forward, the sports community's task is to prepare athletes for the 34th SEA Games in Malaysia next year, emphasizing that the 43 sports associations must enter training camps and get ready, since host Malaysia has already started intensive athlete preparations, with an eye on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA. The Vice President of the Thai Olympic Committee also revealed that shoe company Baoji, which wants to congratulate Thai medal‑winners from the Asian Games, will award cash prizes: 30,000 baht for each gold, 20,000 baht for each silver, and 10,000 baht for each bronze. The official presentation ceremony will take place on October 29, with the Olympic Committee's finance division transferring the money directly to the athletes' accounts.
