Thai Sprint Cycling Team Sets New Record, Wins Olympic Points
Thailand’s sprint cycling team set a new national record of 44.183 seconds, finishing 13th overall and third in Asia at the 2026 UCI Track World Championships in China, earning 787.5 points toward Olympic 2028 qualification. General Decha Kamkrasri said the result puts the team on track for medals at the 2027 Asian Championships and the SEA Games in Malaysia while continuing the Olympic points chase. He added that the Netherlands won the world title, with China and Japan taking bronze, and noted that track cycling does not award Olympic quotas to continental champions.
The Thai sprint team, made up of Jai Angkasutasawiwat, Lieutenant Norasetthada Bunma, and Sergeant Yuenyong Phettrat, recorded a time of 44.183 seconds in the event, setting a new national record and placing 13th overall and third in Asia. According to team manager Lieutenant Colonel Jutatip Manipun, the lead‑off rider Yuenyong posted a split of 18.285 seconds, Jai followed with 12.548 seconds, and Norasetthada finished with 13.350 seconds. Yuenyong’s and Jai’s splits are personal bests, while Norasetthada’s time is believed to have been affected by psychological factors from a crash at the Asian Games, leaving him short of his potential 13.00‑13.10 second range.
General Decha Kamkrasri noted that while China and Japan advanced to the bronze‑medal race — with China edging out Japan for bronze — the Netherlands captured the world title by defeating Great Britain in the final. He added that Thailand’s squad also beat Hong Kong and Malaysia, two teams that contested the bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Japan, where they recorded times of 44.787 and 44.851 seconds respectively in the qualifying round.
He explained that the points earned in Shanghai count as the first round of Olympic qualification for the 2028 Games, with the scoring system considering only the 2026 and 2027 World Championships, the 2027‑2028 World Cup series (three events per season), and the 2027 Asian Track Championships in Malaysia. Unlike road, BMX and mountain‑bike disciplines, track cycling does not allocate quota spots to continental champions.
Looking ahead, General Decha said the team will continue its training camp in preparation for major events early in 2027, including the Asian Track Championships in Malaysia and the build‑up toward the 2028 Olympic Games.
