Thai Weightlifting Storage Flooded, Equipment Damaged Worth 20 Million Baht
Severe flooding at a Bangkok sports facility damaged 20 million baht worth of Thai weightlifting equipment, threatening preparations for October championships in Chiang Rai and forcing operations to relocate to Chiang Mai.
The Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association faces a major setback after sustained rainfall flooded multiple areas across Bangkok, including the Thailand Sports Authority facility in Huamark on the night of September 25, 2026. The training center and competition equipment storage of the association, situated within the Rajamangala Stadium grounds, sustained extensive damage.
Upon immediate inspection, staff discovered substantial losses across numerous items. More than 150 steel bars, competition floor mats, weight plates, training and competition platforms, rubber sheets, floor frames, snatch racks, clean-and-jerk racks, dumbbells, scales, and ice baths for athlete recovery have been submerged. The total damage is estimated at nearly 20 million baht.
The facility serves as an occasional training camp for the Thai national weightlifting team (primary base in Chiang Mai) and houses equipment for international competitions hosted by Thailand, as well as national championship events. The flooded equipment was intended for the EGAT Youth Weightlifting Championship and the EGAT Teenage Weightlifting Championship (ages 13-15), both scheduled for October 16-26, 2026, in Chiang Rai province.
Brigadier General Intanat Yodbangtay, honorary chairman, is currently in Nagoya supporting Thai athletes competing at the 20th Asian Games. He has delegated responsibilities to coordinate moving training operations from Bangkok to the Chiang Mai facility and has tasked officials with arranging urgent equipment cleaning services once water recedes. A critical concern remains whether extended water exposure has warped the metal equipment or compromised its weight specifications. Many items are expected to be unusable after assessment.
Meanwhile, Thai weightlifters at the Asian Games have earned two silver and two bronze medals so far, including silver medals from Surasawadee Yodsar in the 57-kilogram women's category and Virapol Wichuma in the 75-kilogram men's category.
