“Gen. Muek” reaffirms that Thai cycling still has a chance to qualify for the Olympics across road, track, and BMX, continuing to pursue points through to 2028 GMT+7.,
“Gen. Muek” Gen. Decha Hemkrasri noted that although the Thai cycling team missed medal targets at the 20th Asian Games, the path to qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games remains open. Both the men’s and women’s road teams remain hopeful based on world rankings, while BMX racing has a strong chance to qualify as the Asian champion when Thailand hosts the 2027 Asian Championships next year. Meanwhile, track cyclists continue to maintain their world rankings and important competition rights, steadily collecting points, though there are ongoing concerns about the unclear 2027 budget.
“Gen. Muek,” 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, revealed that despite Thai cyclists’ performance at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026, falling short of medal expectations, the ongoing accumulation of points to vie for the 2028 Olympic Games quota in Los Angeles, USA, remains on track. The Cycling Association of Thailand has set goals accordingly, with efforts continuing through 2026 and into 2027 GMT+7.
Gen. Decha explained that in the road category, where the top 43 nations in the UCI World Ranking qualify for the Olympics, Thai women’s road cyclists currently rank 48th globally with 470 points following an 8th place finish in the women’s individual time trial by Petdarinn Somraj and 9th place in the road race by Chaniporn Batriya. Greece, ranked 43rd, holds 555 points, just 85 points ahead.
Gen. Muek added that the Thai men’s team holds 55th place with 693 points, including a 6th place individual time trial by Arti Pullard and 22nd in the road race by Peerapol Chaochiangkwang. Sweden, ranked 43rd, currently has 890 points. Beyond world ranking points, the road category also offers two Olympic quota spots to the top one or two nations at the 2027 Asian Championships, which China will host in June 2027 GMT+7. The deadline for accumulating world ranking points in road cycling for the 2028 Olympics is October 2027 GMT+7.
“In BMX racing, Olympic Qualification Ranking points are calculated separately from regular world rankings, based on international C1 and HC-level events, plus continental championships, world championships, and World Cup Supercross events through June 2028 GMT+7. Currently, Thai BMX racers hold 297 points, ranking 16th in the men’s category, and 290 points, ranking 11th in the women’s category. Thailand still has a strong chance to qualify as the 2027 Asian champion since it will host the BMX Asian Championships at Kamol Sports Park on Suwinthawong Road in Nong Chok District, Bangkok, in May 2027 GMT+7,” Gen. Decha said.
Gen. Decha further explained that in track cycling, Olympic qualification points for 2028 are only counted from the 2026 and 2027 World Championships, the 2027 and 2028 World Cups, and the 2027 and 2028 continental championships. There are no quotas from continental champions, only point accumulation. World rankings are used to select nations eligible for World Championships and World Cups. Despite falling short of goals at the 20th Asian Games, Thai track cycling retains its quota for the 2026 World Championships team sprint, maintaining 15th in the world. Keirin and sprint categories have secured spots for the 2027 World Cups, which will hold three events in Milton, Canada (2-4 April 2027), Hong Kong SAR (23-25 April 2027), and Shanghai, China (30 April - 2 May 2027). The Olympic qualification deadline is April 2028 GMT+7.
“For mountain bike cross-country, new-generation Thai riders such as Poonseri Sirimongkol, Pongpeera Pongayukul, Pinpak Chiangsuang, and Pornpak Propthang have improved as planned by Mr. Robert Herber. However, it is still early to expect Olympic qualification points for 2028. The Cycling Association will continue to send these four young riders to international C1 mountain bike events to accumulate points and develop skills, maintaining their chances for the 2028 Olympic quota and laying groundwork for the 2032 Olympics in Australia six years from now. Additionally, Mr. Robert Herber aims for Thai mountain bikers to perform well at the 34th SEA Games in Malaysia next year,” Gen. Decha said.
Gen. Decha added that while Thai cyclists remain on track for Olympic quotas in road, track, and BMX racing, accumulating world ranking points requires significant budgets for training, preparation, and travel to multiple competitions from October 2026 through June 2028 GMT+7. However, government budget allocations for fiscal year 2027 remain uncertain. Moreover, proposed amendments to the Sports Act aim to cut funding from excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco to the National Sports Development Fund, which, if approved, would severely impact development not only in cycling but across all Thai sports.