Thai Surfing Team Heads to Asian Games Targeting Gold and Olympic Berth

Thailand's surfing team is departing for Japan to compete in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya 2026, aiming to secure gold medals and qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Chanintr Ayarak, president of the Thai Surfing Association, has assigned secretary-general Mongkol Sapthanawit to accompany and encourage the national team before departure on Thai Airways flight TG644, scheduled to depart at 00:05 on September 22 and arrive in Nagoya at 08:00 local time.

The Thai team will compete in the shortboard category with four athletes: men Nathakorn Saeieau and Tin Johnson, and women Isabel Fe Hick and Anissa Thita Flynn. The team is led by deputy president Perapol Lilasetrakul as team head, with coach Pongskor Pennaluang and assistant coach Pranot Sukhapithak providing support throughout the competition.

The surfing competition will take place at Pacific Long Beach in Tahara, Aichi Prefecture. The Thai team will conduct training sessions from September 22-24, followed by the team leaders' meeting and draw on the evening of September 24. Competition runs from September 25-28, 2026, with September 29 as a reserve day for poor wave conditions. Japan is two hours ahead of Thailand, and daily schedules may be adjusted based on wave conditions.

This Asian Games holds special significance as a direct Olympic qualifying event for Los Angeles 2028, offering one quota per gender category to the highest-ranking athletes. Gold medalists will automatically secure spots at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles—a historic opportunity for Thai surfing.

The Thai Surfing Association thanks Thai AirAsia for supporting the team's domestic travel and invites Thai sports fans to cheer on the surfers. Fans are encouraged to follow the association's social media for live updates from the competition.