Bangkok: "Sky" Kingpoyom Sharper, a promising 17-year-old swimmer, is adapting to the heat in Thailand as she gears up for the 2026 Asian Games. According to Thai News Agency, the Thai national swimming team is currently training separately with various clubs, with Sky returning from England to train with the Bangkok Elite Swim Team (BEST). This club is renowned in Thailand and also hosts national team swimmers Kamonchanok Kwanmuang and Ratwit Thammananthachot.
Sky mentioned that the training environment in Thailand differs significantly from England. In Wellington, she trained in a domed swimming pool, whereas in Thailand, she must acclimate to an open pool and the hotter climate, which is a considerable challenge. She noted that after competing in the 2026 Asian Age Group Swimming Championships, she required a two-week recovery due to illness. Now back to her regular training routine, she expressed her excitement about being selected for the Thai national team for the first time at the Asian Games, marking it as her most significant competition as a national swimmer.
Sky's recent performance at the 2026 Asian Age Group Championships was remarkable, as she broke the Thai national record in the men's 200m individual medley. The previous record, held by "Shark Nook" Rattapong Sirisanon since the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, stood at 2:04.16 minutes. Sky surpassed it with a time of 2:03.68 minutes, providing a boost of hope for the Thai swimming team as they look forward to the 2026 Asian Games.