"Pote" Natthapong leads Thailand's para-badminton team in intensive training, confident of sweeping gold medals at the ASEAN Para Games in Korat.
Thailand's national para-badminton team for standing classes continues their final training camp at the T Thailand Badminton Club in Bang Yai, Nonthaburi, ahead of their participation in the 2025 ASEAN Para Games from 20-26 January in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
At the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Thai standing para-badminton team won two gold medals: one from "Pote" Natthapong Meechai in men's singles SH6 and another from "Vee" Mongkol Boonsun in men's singles SL3.
"Pote" Natthapong Meechai, the young prodigy in class SH6 and ranked 4th in the world, said, "I am now 100 percent ready for the ASEAN Para Games. The training has been quite intense since we began the camp last February. This time, I will compete only in men's singles and aim to defend my title."
Meanwhile, "Vee" Mongkol Boonsun, class SL3 and bronze medalist at Paris 2024, ranked 13th worldwide, stated, "My condition is good. I will compete in two events: men's singles and men's doubles. In singles, I hope to reach the finals. My toughest opponent is from Indonesia. I lost to him in the Thailand Open in Korat last time, so I want to get revenge this round."
The standing para-badminton team will travel to Korat on Saturday, 17 January, and have a practice session at the actual venue on 18 January. The badminton competitions at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games will take place at the auditorium of the Paralympic Sports Association of Thailand within the 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium in Nakhon Ratchasima province.