Sports Authority of Thailand Sets Athlete Limit at 600 for Asian Games - Confirms Football Team's Participation

The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) is currently in discussions about finalizing the number of athletes for the upcoming Asian Games. Dr. Kong-sak Yodmanee, the SAT Governor, explained that they are carefully reviewing each sports association and consulting with the Thai Olympic Committee. The primary considerations include medal-winning potential and the necessity of participating in sports that are crucial for accumulating points or qualifying for the Olympic Games. Dr. Kong-sak believes the total number of athletes will be around 500-600. Regarding speculation about removing underperforming sports, particularly football, which only won a silver medal in the previous SEA Games, Dr. Kong-sak emphasized that football is a priority for development. He expressed confidence in the Thai U-23 team's potential and believes the football team will likely participate in the Asian Games. For context, in the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2022, Thailand sent 939 athletes, which was more than the host country's 884 athletes.