In a landmark moment for Thai sports, MMA fighter Kanjutha clinched a historic gold medal at the Asian Games, marking a significant milestone for the sport in Thailand. The victory came in the women’s 54kg category, where she defeated Diana Pogosian of Bahrain in a decisive match at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Center. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as MMA is included in the prestigious Games for the first time, adding an extra layer of significance to Kanjutha’s triumph.
Kanjutha’s Dominant Performance and Historic Gold
Kanjutha’s path to gold was paved with strategic prowess and skillful execution. Throughout the two rounds of her final bout, she demonstrated superior grappling techniques and landed effective scoring strikes, ultimately securing a unanimous 3-0 victory over her Bahraini opponent. The win not only earned her the coveted gold medal but also etched her name in the history books as a pioneer for Thai MMA on the international stage.
Speaking after her victory, Kanjutha candidly admitted to feeling immense pressure leading up to the match. “I felt immense pressure today. It’s the first time MMA has been included in the Asian Games, so the pressure was real,” she stated. However, she credited her success to meticulous preparation and adherence to the game plan developed by her coaching staff. “Everything went according to the plan laid out by the coaching staff,” she confirmed.
The emotional weight of the moment was palpable. “There were tears because it was a historic first for MMA and a first for me competing in this sport as part of the national team. I had high expectations, and I succeeded,” Kanjutha shared, reflecting on the culmination of her efforts. She emphasized the grueling nature of her year-long training regimen, describing it as “incredibly exhausting and gruelling.” The gold medal, she declared, is a shared victory, belonging not just to her but also to her family and all the people of Thailand. “What matters most is that this result exceeded expectations,” she added, highlighting the profound impact of her win.
Kanjutha expressed optimism that her success would elevate the profile of MMA in Thailand. “Thanks to this gold medal, people will become much more familiar with this sport,” she predicted, anticipating a surge in interest and recognition for mixed martial arts.
Volleyball Team Secures Bronze in Hard-Fought Competition
Adding to Thailand’s medal haul, the women’s volleyball team secured a bronze medal after a compelling victory against South Korea. The match, held at Park Arena Komaki, saw the Thai spikers demonstrate their resilience and skill. This bronze medal win follows a challenging semi-final encounter where the team narrowly lost to the formidable Chinese team in a tense five-set thriller.
In the bronze medal match, Thailand defeated South Korea in straight sets with scores of 25-20, 25-19, and 25-23. This marks the third time the Thai women’s volleyball team has achieved a bronze medal finish at the Asian Games, having previously secured third place at the 2014 Incheon Games and the 2022 Hangzhou Games. Their best performance to date remains a silver medal, achieved at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. The gold medal match was slated to feature hosts Japan against China.
Men’s Badminton Team Advances to Semi-Finals, Guaranteeing at Least Bronze
The men’s badminton team also celebrated a significant achievement, guaranteeing themselves at least a bronze medal by reaching the semi-finals. Their advancement came after a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Taiwan, showcasing the team’s depth and determination.
The tie was clinched in the fourth rubber by the men’s doubles pair Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn and Worrapol Thongsa-nga, who staged a comeback to defeat Liu Kuang-heng and Wang Chi-lin with a score of 13-21, 21-14, 21-14. Earlier, Kunlavut Vitidsarn secured the first point for Thailand, overcoming Chou Tien-chen in a thrilling three-set match (19-21, 21-16, 21-14). The second point was added by the doubles team of Sukphun Peeratchai and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul, who battled past Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan in another close contest (16-21, 22-20, 23-21).
Despite an initial strong showing from Panitchaphon Teeraratsakul in his singles match, he was forced to retire due to a back injury, allowing Taiwan a brief glimmer of hope. The Thai men’s team was scheduled to face either Indonesia or Malaysia in the semi-finals.
Earlier, the Thai women’s badminton team’s campaign concluded in the quarter-finals following a 3-0 defeat against China. Notable matches included Ratchanok Intanon’s loss to Wang Zhiyi, the doubles pair Hathaithip Mijad and Napapakorn Tungkasatan’s defeat against the world No.1 pair Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning, and Pornpawee Chochuwong’s loss to Chen Yufei. This marks the first time in eight years that the Thai women’s team has exited the Asian Games without a medal, a departure from their bronze medal finishes in 2018 and 2023.
Other Notable Performances
In cycling, Chaniporn Batriya delivered a commendable performance in the women’s road race, finishing ninth and leading all Southeast Asian cyclists. Her time was 2:53.57. Phetdarin Somrat also competed, finishing 24th with a time of 2:59.49.
In boxing, Kangpi Bokhunthod advanced in the men’s 55kg preliminary bout, securing a dominant 5-0 victory over Daniyar Rozmetov of Turkmenistan.
