Bangkok: 'Wave-Oil' is set to lead the Thai weightlifting team in their pursuit of medals at the 2026 Asian Games. General Wisut Dechskul, Secretary-General of the Amateur Weightlifting Association of Thailand, has revealed the state of preparedness of the national weightlifting squad for the 20th Asian Games, scheduled from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The team is undergoing training at the National Weightlifting Training Center in Chiang Mai, receiving support from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT). The association has selected a team of 10 athletes, comprising 5 men and 5 women, who were rigorously chosen to represent Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, weightlifting stands as one of the sports with a strong potential for medal success at the Asian Games. General Wisut highlighted Thailand's promising athletes, including "Wave" Veerapol Wichuma, a gold medalist at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand and a silver medalist at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, and "Oi" Surajana Khambao, a gold medalist at the 33rd SEA Games and a bronze medalist at the 2024 Olympic Games. These athletes are pivotal to the Thai weightlifting team's medal ambitions for the upcoming Games.
The association is leveraging sports science to optimize the athletes' physical fitness, ensuring they are in optimal condition and facilitating injury recovery, thanks to the strong support from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT). Despite facing strong competition from countries like China, South Korea, and Indonesia, the Thai weightlifting team is determined to deliver outstanding performances. General Wisut expressed confidence in the athletes' capabilities and urged Thai sports fans to support the team as they aim for success on the Asian stage.