"Chaniporn" powered impressively to finish 9th at the Asian Games, rising to 1st place among ASEAN cyclists by defeating competitors from both Indonesia and Vietnam. "Sergeant Major Muek" praised the performances of three Thai female cyclists.
Chaniporn Battariya showed strong form by riding with the lead group before finishing 9th in the women's individual road race at the 20th Asian Games. She emerged as the top cyclist among ASEAN countries. "Sergeant Major Muek" commended the dedication of the three Thai female cyclists, while Coach Tum revealed that the Thai team planned for Phetcharin Somrat and Kamolrada Khaoplod to support Chaniporn in the lead group and to defeat all ASEAN competitors.
"Sergeant Major Muek," 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, stated that the cycling competition at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on 22 September featured one gold medal event: the women's individual road race at Shinshiro Cycling Road Course. The Thai athletes included Phetcharin Somrat, Chaniporn Battariya, and Kamolrada Khaoplod.
General Decha said he received reports from Coach Tum Wisut Kasiyaphat, the team manager, that the race involved 40 cyclists from 18 countries. The course was a circuit of three laps totaling 90.4 km, including flat sections and mountainous climbs. Sergeant Chaniporn Battariya stayed with the lead group throughout and finished 9th with a time of 2:53:57 hours, ranking first among ASEAN cyclists. The gold medal went to China's Guo Li, who broke away with Fariba Hashimi from Afghanistan, who took silver, both clocking 2:50:05 hours. The bronze went to Liang Wing Yee of Hong Kong at 2:50:46. Phetcharin Somrat finished 24th at 2:59:49, while Kamolrada Khaoplod was timed out in the final lap.
General Decha added that the Thai female cyclists performed well and supported each other fully. Chaniporn's 9th place finish is satisfactory as she outperformed all ASEAN cyclists, including Agustina Delia Priyatni of Indonesia, gold medalist in the 33rd SEA Games time trial last year, who placed 28th, and Nguyen Thi That, a top Vietnamese cyclist who finished 26th. The road cycling events continue with the men's individual road race on 23 September, followed by mountain biking, BMX, and track cycling. He asked the Thai public to support the cyclists in their efforts at the Asian Games. All athletes are determined to perform their best.
Coach Tum said the race began with a large lead group, but the mountain climb split the field, forming a lead group of 16 riders, including Chaniporn. Phetcharin worked to close gaps to prevent ASEAN cyclists from advancing, while Kamolrada, despite not finishing, helped pull Chaniporn into the lead group early on. In the final lap, the leading trio were cyclists from China, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong, followed by a chase group of six including Chaniporn, who finished 9th, just seconds behind Kazakhstan’s Ritana Sultanova, the time trial gold medalist who finished 8th. Other ASEAN cyclists fell back during the climb, while even the three Japanese host riders familiar with the course placed 5th, 13th, and 19th.
Coach Tum also said that the Thai men's team—comprising Matum, Lt. Col. Peeraphon Chaochiangkhang, Sgt. Sarawut Siriranchai, and Sgt. Thanakarn Chaiyasombat—have a good chance to perform well. The three trained intensively by cycling up Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai and are in good physical condition without injuries. Their main rivals are professional pro-tour cyclists from Uzbekistan and the Japanese hosts. Nevertheless, all Thai cyclists will do their best, and he asked Thai cycling fans to support them.
The men's individual road race, covering 120.5 km, is scheduled for 23 September with the Thai national team consisting of Lt. Col. Peeraphon Chaochiangkhang, Sgt. Sarawut Siriranchai, and Sgt. Thanakarn Chaiyasombat. The race starts at 09:00 local time, corresponding to 07:00 Thailand time.