"Maj. Gen. Muek" encouraged the Thai road cycling team competing in Nagoya with the message: "Ride without fear," setting sights on victories in four events.
Maj. Gen. Decha Hemkrasri motivated the Thai national road cycling team ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. He urged the athletes to compete as they do in training, riding without fear. He also asked Thai sports fans to send strong support. Coach Wisut Kasiyaphat expressed confidence that Thai cyclists could place in the top three in both men’s and women’s time trials, with potential surprises in the men’s and women’s road races.
Maj. Gen. 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, gave a motivational speech to the Thai national road cycling team before their departure for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on 16 September 2026 at the Thai Cycling Hall of Fame, Velodrome, Hua Mak, under the Sports Authority of Thailand.
Maj. Gen. Decha said he encouraged all cycling athletes to compete as they do in training, aiming to set good records and win victories, as the entire Thai nation is counting on them. He acknowledged the strong challenge posed by host Japan, which increased race distances, but noted that Thai cyclists have trained well, including mountain rides up Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. He presented the team with a mounted statue of King Taksin the Great to inspire and uphold their spirit, as the king is revered as the liberator of Thailand’s independence. He urged the athletes to represent Thailand honorably, bring home victories, and perform their best. "Once you are on the bike, fear no one," he said, stressing the goal of winning medals.
Maj. Gen. Decha also asked the Thai public and cycling fans to wholeheartedly support the athletes competing in the four events: men’s and women’s individual time trials and road races. The road cycling team is the first to depart for Japan, led by team manager Coach Wisut Kasiyaphat and head coach Lt. Col. Phuchong Saeudomsil. Other cycling disciplines—mountain biking, BMX, and track—will follow later. All national cyclists are committed to performing their best and not disappointing the Thai people.
Coach Wisut Kasiyaphat expressed gratitude to Lt. Col. Phuchong, who has closely supported the athletes throughout training. He praised the cyclists’ hard work, training persistently under sun and rain without complaint. Key rivals identified are Kazakhstan and host Japan, who present tough competition based on past Asian Games experience. However, he believes Thai cyclists will be competitive, especially Arti Pullard in the men’s individual time trial, who has a strong chance to finish in the top three. In the women’s time trial, Sergeant Petchdarin Somrat recorded her best times during training and also has a top-three chance.
Coach Wisut added that in the men’s road race, Staff Sergeant Sarawut Sirironchai, Lt. Col. Peeraphol Chaochiangkwang, and Sergeant Thanakarn Chaiyasombat have trained rigorously and are capable of staying in the lead group, potentially causing surprises. In the women’s road race, Sergeant Petchdarin Somrat, Sergeant Choniporn Battariya, and Ms. Kamolrada Khwaplot are all determined and have posted good times. He believes Thai athletes have a chance in all four events and calls on Thai people to support the team, promising the athletes will do their best to make the nation proud.
Lt. Col. Peeraphol Chaochiangkwang, speaking as a representative of the road cycling athletes, thanked Maj. Gen. Decha Hemkrasri for his continuous support and all those involved in the Cycling Association of Thailand. He pledged to perform to the best of his ability in Japan and asked the Thai public for their encouragement.
The road cycling events at the Asian Games will award four gold medals: on 20 September, two golds will be contested in the women’s individual time trial starting at 09:00 local time (two hours ahead of Thailand) and the men’s individual time trial at 13:00; on 22 September, the women’s road race gold will be contested starting at 09:00; and on 23 September, the men’s road race gold will be contested starting at 09:00.
The Thai national road cycling team departing for the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, includes men’s athletes Staff Sergeant Sarawut Sirironchai, Lt. Col. Peeraphol Chaochiangkwang, Sergeant Thanakarn Chaiyasombat, and Arti Pullard; women’s athletes Sergeant Petchdarin Somrat, Sergeant Choniporn Battariya, Ms. Kamolrada Khwaplot, and Ms. Pithayaporn Saetan. The team is managed by Coach Wisut Kasiyaphat, with head coach Lt. Col. Phuchong Saeudomsil and mechanic Mr. Anek Sartsap. They departed Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thai Airways flight TG644 at 00:05 on 17 September and arrived in Nagoya at 08:00 local time the same day.