Kometh rises to claim the international BMX championship, increasing his Olympic points and improving his world ranking, while aiming to win a medal at the Asian Games.
Kometh Sukprasert, a Thai national cyclist, delivered an outstanding performance by winning first place in all three motos, securing the men's elite title at the ASEAN BMX Racing Cup. He also earned 410 Olympic qualifying points, moving up from 76th to 59th in the world rankings. Yumiko Furuya, the Japanese international chief judge, noted that Thai cycling has steadily improved thanks to effective strategic planning, starting from Balance Bike programs to BMX, mountain biking, and road disciplines. The event's live broadcasts on Facebook Live and YouTube attracted over 12,000 views.
The 2026 Thailand BMX Championship for the Royal Trophy of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Round 2, took place from 14-15 March at the BMX track in Kamol Sports Park on Suwinthawong Road, Nong Chok District, Bangkok. The finals for all age groups were held on 15 March. Concurrently, the ASEAN BMX Racing Cup, registered as a UCI Class 1 event by the Cycling Association of Thailand, offered world ranking points affecting qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
The ASEAN BMX Racing Cup featured nearly 20 teams from 8 countries: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Categories included men's and women's elite, under-23 men and women, and youth boys and girls. Live broadcasts on Facebook Live via the Thailand Cycling Association and TCA Channel, as well as YouTube's TCA Channel, attracted over 12,000 viewers, with shares extending to neighboring countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan.
General Decha Hemkrasri, Vice President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), President of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and President of the Cycling Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, revealed that in the men's elite category, Sergeant Kometh Sukprasert secured a double victory as Thailand and ASEAN BMX Racing Cup champion. This raised his world ranking points to 410, moving him from 76th to 59th place. Unfortunately, his 60 points from the Thailand Championship replaced last year’s points, so no additional points were gained from that event. He earned 100 points solely from the ASEAN Cup win. In the under-23 men’s category, Buddhabhum Nakpan, recently promoted from youth, also secured two championships and collected 53 points, ranking 101st in the world under-23 category for the first time.
General Decha added that in the women's elite category, Sergeant Chutikarn Kitwanichseth earned runner-up in the ASEAN Cup, gaining 86 points. Like Kometh, her Thailand Championship points did not add to her total since she was the defending champion, but she improved her world ranking from 43rd to 39th with 542 points. Hathaipech Jaiswang, Thailand’s 2026 Thailand Champion and ASEAN Cup under-23 champion, added 53 points, moving up from 36th to 28th in the world rankings.
“Given the strong performances by Thai BMX riders at the ASEAN BMX Racing Cup, despite many international competitors from Asia, I am confident we will reclaim the top position in BMX racing, especially in the men's division. Several more point-scoring events remain, including the Philippines BMX Racing Cup in the Philippines and the Banyuwangi Supercross in Indonesia in June, followed by the Asian Championships and Malaysian BMX International Race in Malaysia in August, culminating with the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, in September. However, the women's team currently trails Indonesia, so I have instructed coach Harvey Crepes to intensify development to elevate Thai female riders to Asia’s top rank, just like the men in the future,” General Decha said.
Yumiko Furuya, the Japanese international chief judge, said the atmosphere at both the Thailand BMX Championship and ASEAN BMX Racing Cup was thrilling, with all participants enjoying the competition. She congratulated the Cycling Association of Thailand for successfully organizing the event. Compared to several years ago when she first visited Thailand, the number of athletes has increased significantly due to good strategic planning. The association has developed young riders starting from Balance Bike programs progressing to BMX, mountain biking cross-country, and road racing, demonstrating Thailand’s cycling has steadily advanced to higher levels.
Results of the ASEAN BMX Racing Cup international competition include the men's elite category, where Sergeant Kometh Sukprasert, a Thai national preparing for the 20th Asian Games, won all three motos to claim the championship and earned a full 100 Olympic qualifying points. Second place went to Sogarnno Aditya Fajar Putu of NF Rudal, Malaysia, who earned 86 points, and third was Rio Akbar from Indonesia’s national team with 74 points.
After the race, Kometh said that after the 33rd SEA Games, he took about two months off to recover from a torn groin tendon injury sustained at the Asian Championship in late October last year. He had returned to serious training less than two weeks ago. His goal at the ASEAN BMX Racing Cup was to win all three motos, which he achieved. His training camp for the 20th Asian Games began on 1 March, with coach Harvey increasing intensity. Kometh aims to fully recover to 100% to prepare for Olympic qualifying events in the Philippines and Indonesia in June. His goal at the Asian Games is to perform his best against key rivals from Japan, China, and the Philippines. He is not afraid but will remain cautious and aims to bring home a medal for Thailand.
In the under-23 men’s category, the champion was Buddhabhum Nakpan, a Thai national rider preparing for the 20th Asian Games, earning 33 points. Second place went to Rafelino Rahendra from Indonesia’s HAPPY RACING EINS MEUBLE X BONERO team with 29 points, and third was Muhammad Isyad Panji Putra of Indonesia’s GGMM team with 25 points.
In the youth boys’ category, first place was Kantaphat Phosri from Thailand with 25 points, second was Muhammad Bakus Refancha from Indonesia’s Happy Racing BM99 Sernaser with 22 points, and third was Duan Yang Zero Chiu from Hong Kong’s Akki Pro team with 19 points.
In the women’s elite category, first place went to Amelya Nur Saifa of Indonesia with 100 points, second to Sergeant Chutikarn Kitwanichseth of Thailand with 86 points, and third to Khemika Srisopa of Thailand with 74 points.
In the under-23 women’s category, first place was Hathaipech Jaiswang of Thailand, preparing for the 20th Asian Games, with 33 points. Second and third places were taken by S.R.I. Cycling Team: Ban Dek Ying Saraburi riders with 29 and 25 points, respectively—Warassaya Chantraraksa in third place.
In the youth girls’ category, first place went to Papichaya Krongproong of Thailand with 25 points, second to Yeso Kim of South Korea’s Pro Specs BMX team with 22 points, and third to Tara Alaina Welin of Singapore with 19 points. Complete results are available on the Cycling Association of Thailand’s website at www.thaicycling.or.th.
The next event organized by the Cycling Association of Thailand is the international road cycling race “Tour of Thailand 2026,” scheduled from 24 March to 2 April 2026, covering a total distance of 1,113.70 kilometers. The men’s team category will compete over six stages from 24-29 March in Nong Khai and Udon Thani provinces, totaling 816.60 kilometers. The women’s team category will race three stages from 30 March to 2 April in Nong Khai province, covering 297.10 kilometers. Interested viewers can follow live broadcasts on Facebook Live and ThaiPBS’s YouTube channel.