Nakhon ratchasima: "Korn" Pongsakorn Paeyo, a Thai national wheelchair racing athlete, is fully prepared and hoping to win a gold medal at the 13th ASEAN Para Games. He revealed that competing at home on the same training ground gives him the advantage and he will try his best. He noted that the path ahead is clear as there are no formidable competitors in his class and invited Thai sports fans to cheer on the Thai Para team.
According to Thai News Agency, the Thai Paralympic team is preparing for the 13th ASEAN Para Games, to be held from January 20-26, 2026, in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Their goal is to win their 7th ASEAN Para Games gold medal, the last time being at the 8th ASEAN Para Games in Singapore in 2015.
As for "Korn" Pongsakorn Paeyo, a 29-year-old Thai national wheelchair racing athlete in the T53 category, who has won 6 gold medals and 4 silver medals from three Paralympic Games (2016, 2020, and 2024), he revealed that everyone has to give their all at the ASEAN Para Games held at home. He added that competing at the 80th Anniversary Celebration Stadium, where the Thai wheelchair racing team regularly trains, is a significant advantage due to familiarity with the venue. He also mentioned the continuous support they have received from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT).
The wheelchair racing athlete, a Paralympic champion, further stated that competing in the 2025 World Ability Sports Games in Nakhon Ratchasima from November 17-24, 2025, felt like competing in the Paralympics because athletes from all over the world were competing, making it very intense. This provided all Thai athletes with valuable benefits and experience. Regarding the ASEAN Para Games, based on her current performance, she doesn't see any formidable competitors in her class, so she and all the other athletes are aiming to perform to the best of their abilities and hope to win as many gold medals as possible.
"I would like to ask all Thai sports fans to support all the Thai national para-athletes and cheer us on. For those who are feeling discouraged, I hope that watching and cheering at this ASEAN Para Games will help inspire everyone," Pongsakorn said.
The 13th ASEAN Para Games will feature 19 sports: athletics, archery, badminton, 5-a-side football, boccia, chess, cycling, 7-a-side football, goalball, judo, weightlifting, swimming, table tennis, sitting volleyball, shooting, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair tennis, and bowling, with a total of 493 gold medals up for grabs.