Phetchaburi: The Thai national para-athlete team is intensively training at Phetchaburi Rajabhat University, aiming to bring smiles to Thai people at the Asian Para Games. At Chulalongkorn National Stadium, within the Sports and Recreation Center of Phetchaburi Rajabhat University in Phetchaburi Province, the Thai national team of athletes with cerebral palsy is engaging in continuous training as they prepare for the 2026 Asian Para Games, scheduled to take place from October 18-24, 2026, in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, Japan. According to Thai News Agency, this training session is led by star athletes, including "Fuse" Amorntep Pholpanna, who earned two gold medals in the 100m and 200m races at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima; "Chompoo" Orrawan Chimpaen, who secured a gold medal in the 100m race; and rising star Fahsaiya Prakam, who recently claimed a gold medal in the discus throw and a silver medal in the shot put at the World Para Athletic Grand Prix 2026 in Switzerland in May. The te am also includes promising athletes such as Apasiri Nuchsetthi, a strong contender in the shot put and discus throw; Thanapol Kongsao, a gold medalist in the F37 javelin throw at the ASEAN Para Games; Pakapol Saengrat, a silver medalist in the 200m T37 race; and Jirasilpol Mankong. The training is being closely supervised by a dedicated coaching team including Major General Ananat Rattanapol (Head Coach), Mr. Kittiphan Ariyakarnon, and Mr. Nattapol Somsuk. The current training focus is on strengthening muscles. Kittiphan Ariyakarnon, coach of the Thai national team of athletes with cerebral palsy, expressed confidence in the athletes' dedication and training efforts. He acknowledged the systematic oversight provided by the team of staff and gratitude towards the Cerebral Palsy Sports Association of Thailand for their excellent support, which has led to noticeable improvements in both the physical and mental condition of the athletes. With the Asian Para Games just two months away, the athletes are poised to compete and bring glory and joy to the Thai nation. Major General Ananat Rattanapol praised the athletes' progress, highlighting the significant improvement in Fahsaiya's performance. She increased her shot put distance from 8.82 meters at the ASEAN Para Games earlier this year to 10.01 meters at the World Para Games in Switzerland. The success and enhanced physical fitness of the athletes at the Phetchaburi camp result from the hard work and dedication of both the athletes and the coaching staff. At the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, athletes with cerebral palsy secured one silver medal in the men's 400m T34 event, achieved by "Dave" Apisit Taprom, and two bronze medals in the women's 100m and 200m T34 events, won by "Chompoo" Orawan Chimpaen. Due to Apisit's current physical condition, he will not participate in the upcoming Asian Para Games.
