Bangkok: The Thai national taekwondo team paid respects to sacred sites to boost morale before competing in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The association's secretary-general expressed confidence that the Thai taekwondo team will win gold medals. According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thanathit Raktabutr, Secretary-General of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, along with "Coach Che" Chatchai Che, head coach of the Thai national taekwondo team, led the Thai national taekwondo team to pay respects at the Bangkok City Pillar Shrine, the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Sri Rattanasasadaram (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and the Erawan Shrine. This gesture was aimed at seeking good fortune as the team prepares for the competition scheduled from September 19th to October 4th in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan. Mr. Thanathit emphasized that paying respects to sacred sites is a morale booster for the athletes. He expressed confidence in the team's ability to achieve their target of securing one gold medal, acknowledging the ch allenges posed by changes in the competition rules. However, he remains optimistic, citing the team's determination, discipline, and rigorous training. The sparring competition is set to take place from October 1st to 3rd. "Coach Che" Chatchai Che shared details of the team's preparation, revealing plans for a week-long training camp in Khao Yai before departing for further training in Osaka, Japan, on September 20th. This will be followed by a final training camp at the Athletes' Village in Nagoya starting September 27th. He highlighted the team's determination to deliver strong performances, equating winning the Asian Games to winning the World Championships. Additionally, the Poomsae team is set to compete in the 2026 Taekwondo Poomsae World Championships in South Korea from September 16-20 before heading to the Asian Games.