Thailand Sends 282 Para Athletes to Asian Games

Thailand will send 282 athletes to compete at the 5th Asian Para Games in Japan this October, with officials setting a target of 24 gold medals. The Games will be held in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture from 18-24 October 2026.

Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) Governor Kongsak Yodmanee said the SAT, the Paralympic Committee of Thailand and four national disability sports associations have finalized preparations for the Games. Thailand will compete in 18 sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, cycling, football, goalball, judo, powerlifting, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

"Our para athletes are well prepared in terms of training camps, athlete support and sports science," Kongsak said. Thailand's gold medal target of 24 was jointly set by the participating sports associations. The largest contribution is expected from the Sports Association for the Disabled of Thailand, which is targeting 17 gold medals, including six from wheelchair racing and five from table tennis.

The Cerebral Palsy Sports Association is aiming for five golds, mainly in boccia, while the Thailand Association of the Blind is targeting two gold medals in athletics. Kongsak said athletes were selected based on international qualification standards and world rankings, expressing confidence that the Thai team could achieve its target.

At the 2022 Asian Para Games, held in Hangzhou in 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand finished seventh in the medal table with 27 gold, 26 silver and 55 bronze medals. Host China topped the standings with 214 gold medals.