The Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association received four major awards at the 2025 Outstanding Athlete Day ceremony, organized by the Sports Journalists Association of Thailand, following consistent strong performances throughout the past year. Sergeant Major Veeraphol Vichuma won the Best Male Amateur Athlete award, Thanaporn Saetia received the Best Female Youth Athlete award, the Weightlifting Association was honored as the Best Sports Association, and Second Lieutenant Sakchai Thitacharee earned the Best Sports Coach award.
The Sports Journalists Association of Thailand hosted the 2025 Outstanding Athlete Day awards ceremony at the Anoma Grand Hotel, Ratchaprasong, Bangkok, on 4 June 2026 GMT+7. The event was chaired by Mr. Surasak Phanjaroenworakun, Minister of Tourism and Sports, who presented certificates of honor to individuals who have brought prestige to the nation across various categories.
The Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association maintained excellent performance throughout the previous year, earning four awards: Sergeant Major Veeraphol Vichuma was named Best Male Amateur Athlete, Miss Thanaporn Saetia received Best Female Youth Athlete, the Association was awarded Best Sports Association, and Second Lieutenant Sakchai Thitacharee was recognized as Best Sports Coach.
Sergeant Major Veeraphol Vichuma, a member of Thailand's national weightlifting team, excelled throughout 2025 by winning the world championship in October in Norway. He claimed two gold medals in the men's 71-kilogram category, including a clean and jerk lift of 194 kilograms, breaking the previous world record of 191 kilograms set by Sebastián Andrés from Colombia. His total lift of 346 kilograms also won gold and surpassed the prior world standard of 340 kilograms. Two months later, at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games held in Thailand in December, he further broke his own world records with a clean and jerk of 195 kilograms and a total of 347 kilograms.
Representing the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association at the event were General Wisut Detsakul, Secretary General of the Association; Navy Captain Petchkasem Rotaporn, Deputy Secretary General and Registrar; Miss Sunanta Thiamphat, Executive Committee member; Miss Purada Yodbangtoey, Association staff; and Second Lieutenant Sakchai Thitacharee, coach.