Bangkok: Thai rock climbers made a strong start at the SEA Games, winning 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.
According to Thai News Agency, the Climbing Association of Thailand aims to propel athletes to the 2028 Olympics. The Thai climbing team started the 33rd SEA Games with a silver and a bronze medal in the lead climbing events. Aussie – Aswin Eua-Areejit won the silver medal in the men’s event, and Natcha Suphaworaset took the bronze in the women’s event. Pol. Gen. Itthipol Achariyapradit, President of the Climbing Association of Thailand, set a goal to propel Thai athletes to the 2028 Olympics.
The sport climbing competition at the 33rd SEA Games began on December 12, 2025, at the Climbing Center of the Sports Authority of Thailand. Two gold medals were up for grabs in the lead climbing (high rock climbing) event. The final round had a time limit of 6 minutes, with the climber achieving the highest elevation within the allotted time winning.
In the men’s lead climbing event final, eight athletes competed for medals. “Aussie” Aswin Eua-Areejit, an 18-year-old rising star and runner-up in the lead climbing event at the 2025 ASEAN Championships in Malaysia, showcased his excellent climbing skills, finishing in second place with 38 points and securing the silver medal. The gold medal went to Adama Sigul Damawulan from Indonesia with a score of 39+, while the bronze medal to Maheza Cesar, also from Indonesia, with a score of 37+.
In the women’s lead athlete event, eight athletes competed for medals in the final. “Khaopun” Natcha Suphavornseth, an 18-year-old rising Thai star, delivered the best performance among Thai athletes, scoring 32 points in the final and finishing in third place, securing the bronze medal. First place went to Alma Ariella Sani from Indonesia, who successfully reached the highest point, while the silver medal went to Sukma Lintang Jayani, also from Indonesia, with 42 points.
Aswin Eua-Areejit said he felt disappointed and believed he could have done better. He learned from his mistakes in this match, which he will use to improve and develop further. He intends to do his best in the bouldering event remaining.
Meanwhile, Natcha Suphavornset said she was delighted to win the bronze medal in this event, which exceeded her expectations. This is her first medal in the general category of an international competition, which has boosted her confidence and motivates her to continue competing, as well as giving her a clearer goal.
Pol. Gen. Itthipol Achariyapradit, President of the Climbing Association of Thailand, said that he thanked the Sports Authority of Thailand, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the government for providing the budget for the construction of this climbing competition venue, which meets international standards and is certified by the International Climbing Federation. He also thanked the contractors for completing the venue within the limited timeframe.
“I must say the atmosphere on the first day of the competition was incredibly lively. It attracted a lot of interest, with sports fans registering to watch the event, filling all the 500 spectator slots. As the president of the Climbing Association, I want to promote this sport further by focusing on developing athletes from the youth level and progressing to the international level. Our ultimate goal is to push for Thai athletes to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games in the United States.”