Thailand's youth team is set to compete in the 4th Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. Women's beach volleyball pair “In” Intira Nilsonti and “Yuki” Patthanun Wongnongwaeng, longtime partners, aim to reach the top 8. Meanwhile, the men's beach handball team, ranked No.1 in Asia and 5th in the world, competes with hopes to use their speed and sharp finishing to make a global impact. The sports fund offers a 2 million baht bonus for gold medals.
On 29 Oct 2026, updates on Thailand’s youth national team preparing for the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games “Dakar 2026” in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 Oct to 13 Nov 2026 were announced. The host will feature 25 sports competing for 153 gold medals. The Sports Authority of Thailand supports the Thai sports associations in training and preparation. Thailand secured quotas for 28 athletes across 11 sports to compete.
A key highlight is the women's beach volleyball team, consisting of 15-year-old “In” Intira Nilsonti and 16-year-old “Yuki” Patthanun Wongnongwaeng from Roi Et Municipal Sports School. They have won silver at the National Youth Games U18, gold at U15, and bronze at the Thailand Beach Volleyball Championships U20.
Coach Apichart Bualuang said the pair has played together for over three years and are in perfect physical condition thanks to the Sports Authority of Thailand’s sports science support. Despite challenges from the long journey and a 7-hour time difference from Thailand, the team has adjusted training schedules accordingly. Drawn in Group B with the Netherlands (world championship 3rd place), Greece, and Tunisia, he is confident Thailand will advance past Greece and Tunisia into the quarterfinals.
The men's beach handball team, selected from over 70 young athletes nationwide by the Handball Association of Thailand, consists of the top 10 players. Their goal is to improve on their 6th place finish at the 3rd Youth Olympic Games in Argentina in 2018. Their strengths are fast ball speed and precise attack timing. Ranked No.1 in Asia and 5th globally, the coaching staff is confident the team will compete strongly against top world teams.
The 10 athletes on the Thai men's beach handball team are Dennis Phenthong, Yosakrit Chongbut, Kiatsak Ruanyen, Tiwakorn Yamprakorn, Natthapat Busprayoon, Rachan Boonnontae, Rattasat Phisutthisirikul, Nathee Thongti, Chayanat Khrueangkongmat, and Thanapon Sembang.
The National Sports Development Fund’s prize money criteria for the Youth Olympic Games are 2,000,000 baht for gold medalists, 1,000,000 baht for silver, and 500,000 baht for bronze. Fans can fully support Thailand’s youth athletes at “Dakar 2026” via live broadcasts on T SPORTS 7 throughout the event.