They came, they rode, they conquered

Thailand ended a 28-year wait for an Asian Games equestrian eventing team title on Wednesday, and backed it up with a clutch of further medals in skeet shooting, badminton, weightlifting and karate at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

The equestrian eventing team won the gold medal with a total of 109.90 penalty points at Tokyo’s Equestrian Park on Wednesday. The victory, Thailand’s first in the eventing team competition since the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998, also delivered the country’s fifth gold medal of the 2026 Games.

Thailand recorded the lowest penalty total across the three phases of dressage, jumping and cross-country, finishing ahead of Japan, who secured silver with 115.20, and South Korea, who took bronze with 143.50.

The gold-medal-winning team consisted of Woraphat Sittiju (B.Grimm Uster de Chanay), Korntawat Samran (B.Grimm Billy Elmy), Weerapat Pitakanonda (B.Grimm Carnival March) and Supap Khaw-Ngam (Vinetto 3).

Thailand enjoyed further success in the individual competition as Woraphat and B.Grimm Uster de Chanay claimed the silver medal with 30.10 penalty points.

The gold medal went to China’s Hua Tian (26.90), while the bronze medal was won by Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa (31.70).

Their achievement was supported by Buraphon Buacha, groom of B.Grimm Uster de Chanay, who played an important role in maintaining the horse’s health, readiness and welfare throughout the training and competition period.

The competition schedule was revised following disruption caused by Typhoon Dujuan. Athletes completed the dressage and jumping phases on Tuesday before contesting the decisive cross-country phase.

Despite the demanding programme, the Thai combinations maintained their composure and delivered consistent performances throughout the competition.

The success confirmed Thailand as one of Asia’s top nations in the discipline, following the team’s outstanding medal performance at the Hangzhou Games three years ago when Supap, Weerapat and Korntawat claimed a team bronze medal while the latter also bagged individual silver.

The Thai riders will take part in a three-day dressage competition, starting tomorrow with the team final and the first individual qualifier.

Isarapa delivers silver

Skeet shooter Isarapa Imprasertsuk claimed a silver medal in the women’s individual skeet event at the General Shooting Gallery in Aichi Prefecture.

The 31-year-old scored 31 points in the final to finish in second place. China’s Jiang Yiting won gold with 35 points while the bronze medal went to Kazakhstan’s Assem Orynbay, who scored 28.

Isarapa, a gold medallist at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last year, finished fourth in the qualifying competition, scoring 114 points to earn her spot in the final, which featured eight shooters.

Weightlifting bronze

There was also a bronze medal in the weightlifting competition after Surodchana Khambao placed third in the women’s 53kg event.

Surodchana, a 49kg bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, lifted 95kg in the snatch and 119kg in the clean and jerk to finish with a combined 214kg.

North Korea’s Kang Hyon Gyong won gold (223kg) and China’s Zhao Jinlan took silver (218kg).

Earlier, Suthasini Kaeosingkhon finished fifth in the women’s 49kg event with a 178kg total (79kg snatch and 99 clean and jerk).

Another karate medal

Teerawat Kangtong picked up a second medal for the karate team, winning bronze in the men’s kumite 84kg event. The 32-year-old defeated Indonesia’s Daniel 6-3 in the bronze medal contest.

Maneevan Butsuwan won silver in the women’s kumite +68kg event on Sunday.

In badminton, the men’s team had to settle for a bronze medal after they lost to Indonesia 3-1 in the semi-finals.

In a battle between the world’s top two players, Kunlavut Vitidsarn got the better of top-ranked Jonatan Christie, winning in two games, 21-17, 21-14, to give the Thai team a strong start.

However, Indonesia bounced back with three successive wins as they swept two doubles matches and second singles tie to secure their place in the gold medal match against China.

Doubles world No.2 pair Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri were just too strong for Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul as they cruised to a 21-13, 21-19 victory to make it 1-1.

World No.10 Alwi Farhan then beat Puritat Arree 21-15, 21-13, and Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin sealed the decisive third point for Indonesia with a 21-15, 21-13 win over Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn and Worrapol Thongsa-nga.

In cycling, Thanakhan Chaiyasombat gave his all before crossing the finish line in 17th place in the men’s road race (160km) with a time of 4:27:38.

He ranked second among Asean cyclists in the field of 40 competitors at the event held at the Shinshiro Cycling Road Course in Nagoya.

Bonus awaits tennis stars

Thailand’s tennis players have been promised a cash windfall of four million baht for every gold medal won in Nagoya.

Ahead of their departure for Japan on Tuesday night, the national squad held a final training session at the National Tennis Development Centre in Muang Thong Thani, where Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand (LTAT) president Suchai Pornchaisakudom wished the team well.

He also announced a bonus scheme that will effectively double the rewards already on offer from the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).

Under the NSDF scheme, gold medallists are entitled to two million baht, with one million baht for silver and 500,000 baht for bronze. A total of five gold medals are on offer in Japan: men’s and women’s singles; men’s and women’s doubles; and mixed doubles.

Suchai announced that the LTAT would match those sums in full, meaning any Thai player who strikes gold will pocket four million baht, with two million baht for silver and one million baht for bronze.

The tennis competitions run from Sept 27 to Oct 3.