Thailand Eyes First Gold at Aichi-Nagoya Games in Tekball
Thailand's tekball team is poised to claim the first gold medal of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on September 20, with three world-class doubles pairs competing across women's, men's, and mixed categories.
Thai sports fans will have full coverage of the 20th Asian Games across seven digital television channels and the AIS PLAY application. Thailand's tekball team is expected to open the medal count with gold on September 20. The 20th Asian Games, branded as Aichi-Nagoya 2026, will run from September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, with several sports already having started competition since September 10, including basketball, football, volleyball, and tekball.
Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmani, director of the Sports Authority of Thailand, announced that after the opening ceremony on September 19, official competition will commence with continuous medal contests. Thai athletes will begin their quest for the first gold starting September 20, with opportunities across multiple sports including triathlon, cycling, shooting, soft tennis, karate, modern pentathlon, and swimming. However, tekball has captured the attention of Thai sports fans nationwide, with five gold medals at stake. Thailand's tekball team has world-class athletes and multiple world champions competing in three categories: women's doubles with Juthatip Kantathoeng and Suphawadee Wongkamjun, men's doubles with Sorrasak Thaosiree and Jiratchit Chanliang, and mixed doubles with Pakpong Decharoen and Suphawadee Wongkamjun. If Thai athletes maintain their standard, all three gold medals are within reach according to the team's targets, according to Dr. Kongsakdi.
The Sports Authority chief added that throughout the Games, Thai athletes will contend for gold in numerous sports beyond tekball, including takraw, weightlifting, judo, athletics, golf, taekwondo, sailing, esports, badminton, boxing, and the women's volleyball team, which is the reigning Asian champion. Should tekball secure the opening gold, it will create momentum and set an auspicious tone as Thailand pursues its target of 15 gold medals.
"The Sports Authority invites Thai sports fans to cheer on our athletes and enjoy the sports you love. Live coverage will be broadcast back to Thailand across seven digital television channels: NBT, T SPORTS 7, MONOMAX SPORTS TV, 9 MCOT HD, One31, ThairathTV 32, and PPTV HD 36, as well as on the AIS PLAY application," Dr. Kongsakdi said.
The opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, on September 19 will be broadcast live on PPTV HD 36, T SPORTS 7, NBT, and the AIS PLAY application from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
