Norton Thitiphat reveals his grand goal after toppling China's former world No.1 at the 2026 Asian Games.
On 25 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Norton Thitiphat Preechayan, a 16-year-old rising star of Thailand’s national table tennis team, spoke candidly to Tom from Thairath Sport after firmly establishing himself at the 2026 Asian Games.
Norton Thitiphat Preechayan, ranked 275th in the world, received widespread acclaim after pulling off a stunning upset by beating Lin Shidong, former world No.1 and currently world No.8 from China, 3-2 in the men's team event, despite Thailand losing to China 1-3.
Today, Norton fought hard against Wang Chuqin, the world No.1 from China, before losing 2-4 with game scores of 11-3, 6-11, 4-11, 11-8, 2-11, 5-11 in the men’s singles round 2 at the 2026 Asian Games.
Norton Thitiphat Preechayan commented on his personal performance at the 2026 Asian Games: "I feel very successful—this has far exceeded my goals because I managed to beat a Chinese player. I am very proud of myself."
"(My future goal) is to continue making the national team and keep performing in upcoming events. Ultimately, my highest aim is to win a medal at the Olympic Games."