Thai Shooters Claim 11 Gold Medals at International IPSC Championship
Thai shooters dominated the Thai-Chinese IPSC Handgun Championship in Chonburi, winning 11 of 12 gold medals across all divisions in the international competition that drew 324 competitors from 12 countries and regions.
The Thai Practical Shooting Association and the Chinese Practical Shooting Association organized the Thai-Chinese IPSC Handgun Championship 2026 (Level 3) from July 16–19, 2025, at the National Sports Training Center's shooting range in Bang Lamung, Chonburi Province.
The competition featured 324 competitors from 9 countries and 2 special administrative regions: Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Australia, Macau, and Hong Kong. Thai shooters achieved exceptional results, winning 11 of 12 championship titles, with Filipino competitor Rolly Nathaniel Tekson claiming the sole non-Thai title in the Production Division men's category.
Divisional champions included: Open Division men's Siraphop Hemala and women's Mintra Pramoht; Standard Division men's Charasprot Srirutthanan and women's Pattharatida Makae; Production Division men's Rolly Nathaniel Tekson (Philippines) and women's Lt. Patchrin Inhorn; Revolver Division men's Theeraphong Timinth; Classic Division men's Vasut Siri; Production Optics Division men's Chirameth Ananthaphumitripath and women's Pattamaporn Chiabchaiwattanakul; and Optics Division men's Lt. Hasanath Wichitpatima and women's Thanyalakshan Panyananthassitthi.
Nattapoom Kamalwongse, the association's managing director and competition organizer, noted that this was the third consecutive annual Thai-Chinese International Handgun Championship. This year saw 146 Chinese athletes and 18 Chinese referees participating, with most competitors arriving 10 days early for training, primarily staying in Pattaya. The growing popularity of practical shooting sport has created jobs, boosted tourism, and driven ammunition purchases from Thai manufacturers. The association plans to expand cooperation further across Southeast Asia.
