Thailand Badminton Team Readies for 2026 Asian Games, World Juniors
Thailand's badminton team is preparing for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and World Junior Championships in Egypt, with officials expressing confidence in winning at least one to two medals at the Asian Games.
The Badminton Association of Thailand held a press conference on September 11 to announce the readiness of Thailand's badminton team for two major 2026 competitions: the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and the VICTOR BWF World Junior Championships. The event was attended by senior government and sports officials, including Passakorn Rangsiwattanakul, Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Sports; Yutthaya Chinheit, Director of Elite Sports Development at Thailand Sports Authority; Chanasit Simadamrong, Deputy Finance Manager of the National Sports Development Fund; and Air Chief Marshal Montol Satchukr, President of the Badminton Association of Thailand.
Air Chief Marshal Montol and senior administrators observed training sessions of Thailand's badminton team at Thailand Sports Authority to assess their preparation for both competitions. The senior team will compete at the 2026 Asian Games, while the youth team will compete at the World Junior Championships in Egypt in October.
Air Chief Marshal Montol described the joint training camp as a new milestone for Thai badminton, allowing young athletes to gain direct experience from senior coaches and training partners who serve as role models. He expressed confidence that Thailand could win at least one to two medals out of a target of three at the 2026 Asian Games, and personally hoped for a gold medal. He noted that badminton ranks among the top nine sports Thai people hope to see capture gold medals.
He confirmed that all athletes are in good condition with no serious health concerns despite minor injuries in some players. Intensive training at Thailand Sports Authority has ensured the team is fully prepared physically and mentally for the competitions.
Female singles player May Ratchanok Intanon revealed her readiness ahead of the Asian Games, which she indicated may be her last Asian Games in her professional career. She aims to perform at her best to help the team win medals for Thai sports fans. She reported that over the past two weeks she has been undergoing comprehensive physical rehabilitation following previous competition injuries.
