Shenzhen: The Thai surfing team expressed disappointment after experiencing light winds during the IQ Foil Games and Asian Championships in Shenzhen, China, which hindered their ability to compete effectively.

According to Thai News Agency, the event, originally scheduled from November 4-10, 2025, faced insurmountable challenges as weak winds persisted over the first three days, preventing any competition. The sea closure on November 9-10 further compounded the situation, allowing only two days of competition and forcing organizers to calculate scores based on limited races. Five Thai athletes participated under the guidance of coach Natthaphong Phonprat, also known as “Coach Oat.”

In the IQ Foil category for female youth under 19, 15-year-old Chanatkarn Charoensuk secured 4th place, losing 10 points. In the male youth under 17 category, Wachiravit Manbamrung finished 8th, with a loss of 19 points. For male youth under 19, Ratchanon Khunjeng and Wachiravit Thanup finished 10th and 11th, losing 32 and 39 points, respectively. Meanwhile, in the male youth under 23 category, Witawat Lertlam placed 42nd, losing 162 points.

Mr. Phatthana Bunsawat, Secretary-General of the Windsurfing Association of Thailand, noted that the initial plan was to have six days of 20 races, concluding with a medal round. However, the unfavorable weather conditions limited the competition to approximately four or five races over two days. This severely restricted the athletes’ opportunities to perform and avoid errors. Additionally, Witawat Lertlam and Wachirawit Ton-up fell ill due to the unstable weather, which affected their performances. Despite these setbacks, Chanatkarn Charoensuk’s commendable 4th place finish highlighted her resilience and ability to compete against older competitors.

This group of athletes remains a significant hope for Thailand in the upcoming 20th Asian Games in 2026, to be held in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan.