The first National Youth Tactical Shooting competition was lively, with the youngest sharpshooter only 6 years old joining the contest.
The 41st National Youth Sports Games "Surat Thani Games" held in Surat Thani featured tactical shooting for the first time as a medal event, after being a demonstration sport last year. The competition involved light compressed air handguns (Action Air IPSC Handgun) with 15 gold medals contested across individual male and female categories in the super junior (under 14 years), junior (under 18 years), and team events. The contest included three divisions: Open, Standard, and Production. A total of 196 athletes from 30 provinces competed. On the final day, 17 May 2026, General Permsak Puangsaroj, president of the association, and Ms. Kansinee Opasrangsarn, Member of Parliament for Surat Thani’s 1st district, co-chaired the awards ceremony for the athletes.
General Permsak Puangsaroj said this National Youth Sports Games marked a great opportunity as tactical shooting was included for the first time as a medal sport. The association organized competitions in the light compressed air pistol, or Action Air, category, which is suitable for developing youth skills, offers high safety, and can be conducted indoors.
"Notably, this year featured the youngest competitors ever in the history of the National Youth Sports Games: 6-year-old boys Theerachat Matchaklam from Chiang Mai, Kritphas Thanasetthavee from Phuket, and 7-year-old girl Sutima Pusuwan from Bangkok. Among them, Pongpol Kuthanaporn was the youngest medalist at 8 years old, winning a silver medal in the Standard team event with the Nakhon Pathom team."
The president of the Tactical Shooting Sports Association added that due to the strong interest and enthusiasm among athletes, the association plans to request to hold competitions with real firearms in future events.
As for results, gold medalists in each event were as follows: Open Division, junior male individual gold went to W. Kannavej Phueakphoom (Surat Thani); junior female individual gold to Anda Jonmee (Saraburi); super junior male individual gold to Seksan Ketumalatam (Saraburi); and super junior female individual gold to Supannika Klinhom (Rayong).
In the Standard Division, junior male individual gold was won by Nopsuwan Kanjanatrangkul (Bangkok), junior female individual gold by Phattharathida Makaew (Bangkok), super junior male individual gold by Narutthorn Charupianlert (Bangkok), and super junior female individual gold by Apichaya Netkobkuer (Nakhon Pathom).
In the Production Division, junior male individual gold went to Pornkiat Suthapradet (Phetchaburi), junior female individual gold to Kanyanat Prasertcharoensuk (Bangkok), super junior male individual gold to Pattharawat Iamsinthorn (Bangkok), and super junior female individual gold to Phurita Thipayatthordthana (Rayong).
In the four-person team events, gold medals went to Saraburi in the Open Division, Bangkok in the Production Division, and Bangkok in the Standard Division.