The hard truth to accept! Coaches Kamol and Pornchai explain why Thailand's men's sepak takraw team lost to Malaysia and missed the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games.
Thai sepak takraw fans were shocked by the 2026 Asian Games men's team final result in Japan, where seven-time champion Thailand was defeated 0-2 by Malaysia, the former champion and runner-up from the previous games.
This loss meant Thailand missed out on its eighth consecutive men's team gold medal at the Asian Games after dominating since 1998, winning in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. Meanwhile, Malaysia claimed the men's team gold for the first time in 28 years.
Two key figures best able to explain this defeat are Kamol Tankimhong, manager of Thailand's sepak takraw team, and Pornchai Kaokaeo, head coach. Both admitted Malaysia truly outperformed Thailand but vowed to redeem by winning gold in the individual events.
Kamol Tankimhong said, “There are no excuses today. If you watch Malaysia play and then us, comparing our teams, there are no excuses. We just have to take it back and improve.”
“We saw it but couldn’t execute. Everyone was on the court, everyone knew what to do, but the Malaysian team could do it all. When the ball swings or slips, it didn't reach the target. When we tried to fix it, they blocked.”
“Regarding scouting, the players know well. Everyone has played and faced these situations. The key is who can adapt the game better.”
When asked directly where Thailand fell short, Kamol replied, “Everything — the playing system, serving, setting, attacking. Today, every system failed. There’s no excuse. Malaysia’s play was perfect. They anticipated where the ball would go, returned it, and handled every situation.”
“Our team couldn’t manage it. We have to focus on winning the singles events now. Everyone has prepared well and maintained their condition. Confidence in facing them is crucial. We prepared thoroughly, so we must be confident. Results and fixes will be assessed after play.”
“I apologize that our Thai athletes couldn’t secure a team medal today. I’m sorry to everyone supporting us, both in Thailand and Japan. Thank you.”
Meanwhile, Pornchai Kaokaeo said, “First, I apologize to Thai sports fans for disappointing the gold medal expectations in the men's team sepak takraw at this Asian Games.”
“Both teams played very well, but we lost because Malaysia managed the game’s finer details better. Our players from both teams gave their all, but at crucial moments, Malaysia gained the advantage and won. They scouted us very well; we scouted them too, but they executed better today. We couldn’t break their defense. We must accept this defeat.”
“For the remaining singles gold medal, we will rally the athletes to fight hard and reclaim the remaining medals. Since the men's team missed out, the singles remain our hope. We must motivate the players and quickly restore their morale to capture the gold.”
“We are still confident about the singles events. We will bring the gold medal back for the Thai people.”