Thailand Sprint Team Climbs to Fourth in Asia Rankings
Thailand's sprint team rose to fourth place in Asia's track cycling rankings after winning gold at the Track Asia Cup 2026, though they remain 15th globally with hopes of qualifying for the 2026 UCI World Championships.
General Deecha Hemgartsri, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), president of the Asian Cycling Federation (ACF), and president of the Thai Cycling Association, announced that according to the UCI's weekly world rankings for track cycling released on Tuesday, September 1, 2025, Thailand's sprint team—one of six events in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games—has climbed to fourth place in Asia. Although the Thai team secured a perfect 300 points from gold medals at the Track Asia Cup 2026 held at the Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok on August 28-30, they remain ranked 15th globally with 1,950 accumulated points. Deecha noted that while Colombia surpassed Thailand's projected ranking by earning additional points from American competitions and climbing to 12th globally, Thailand's Asian ranking improved from fifth to fourth. Japan leads Asia with 2,910 points (8th globally), followed by Kazakhstan with 2,235 points (10th globally), and China with 2,070 points (only 120 points ahead of Thailand in third place).
The Thai sprint team comprises TJ Jaiangsudsawat, Naew Norsrithadat Boonma, and Makham Yuenyong Phetrat. With strong accumulated points, they have a high chance of qualifying for the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai between October 14-18, 2025—just 12 days after the conclusion of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya. The UCI will announce qualified nations on September 4. Beyond team sprint, Thai cyclists also have opportunities to qualify in the keirin and individual sprint events. Jaiangsudsawat, who won gold in keirin and sprint at the Track Asia Cup 2026, has climbed from 48th to 45th in the latest world short-track rankings.
Regarding the Track Asia Cup 2026 results, Deecha noted that all three Thai cyclists posted competitive times, though not as fast as during the 33rd Southeast Asian Games hosted by Thailand. This is because the Thai team trained extensively at a 250-meter track in Tianjin, China, to prepare for the Asian Games, which will use a 250-meter indoor velodrome in Izu as the competition venue. In 2026, Thai cyclists have achieved times similar to those recorded at the Asian Track Cycling Championships in the Philippines and two UCI Track World Cup rounds in Hong Kong and Malaysia, with their best time standing at around 44 seconds.
