Thailand Confident of Hitting 15-Gold Target at Asian Games
Thailand has won four gold medals in the early rounds of the 20th Asian Games in Japan and remains confident of reaching its 15-gold target, with tekbol and mixed martial arts leading the charge so far.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Panchairavongkul reported that during the early rounds of the 20th Asian Games in Japan, Thai athletes have won 4 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 1 bronze medal, maintaining a position in the top 5 of the medal table. The four golds came from tekbol (3 medals) and mixed martial arts (1 medal), representing satisfactory performance in sports where medals were expected beforehand. The Sports Authority of Thailand had set a target of 15 gold medals, and the minister expressed personal confidence that Thai athletes will achieve this goal because many sports have not yet competed. He called for continued support for the athletes and coaching staff.
Panchairavongkul also noted that after learning of various problems Thai athletes faced initially, the host has urgently addressed them all. Although some obstacles remain, they have diminished. He urged Thai athletes to compete with full effort for the nation. Regarding team support, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed full care and attention for the Thai contingent while in Japan to maintain the highest morale during competition.
The Sports Authority of Thailand aims for 15 gold medals from the following sports: takraw (4 golds), tekbol (3 golds), sailing (1 gold), taekwondo (2 golds), muay boxing (1 gold), athletics (1 gold), weightlifting (1 gold), golf (1 gold), and esports (1 gold).
