"Nong Nene" & "Thai Women's Volleyball Team": A National Pride,
The month of August just passed
was truly a month of joy, fulfillment, and pride for all Thai people!
"Nene Royal," or "Nong Praew" Rattikan Amlory, a 16-year-old young rocker from Phuket province,
gained global fame on the stage of America’s Got Talent 2026.
She impressed with her powerful voice and guitar solo skills that even professional musicians admired.
Winning the heart of judge Mel B, who pressed the Golden Buzzer,
sending her directly to the final round without competing in votes against others.
She instantly became the favorite to win AGT this year.
We must give a big round of applause to the amazing "Nong Nene," this Thai girl.
Besides her exceptional talent as a singer and musician beyond her years,
she has already become an "international artist."
What deserves special praise is her role as a "cultural ambassador."
She has introduced Thai identity to the world,
showing polite gestures, the wai greeting, and humble expressions of thanks, endearing her to all who see her.
Importantly, her stage costumes feature traditional Thai patterned fabrics in gold tones,
which she skillfully combined by tying at the waist with dark jeans in a rock style.
This fusion made her stage performance even more powerful.
We believe everyone is now eagerly awaiting the America’s Got Talent Season 21 final,
scheduled for the morning of 23 September 2026 GMT+7.
There, Nong Nene Royal will return to compete for the final title in the United States.
We hope this inspiring young rocker, who motivates our nation's youth,
will create a new legendary chapter remembered worldwide.
Another moment of happiness, fulfillment, and national pride
is the great success of the "Thai National Women's Volleyball Team."
They recently triumphed at the 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship (AVC Women's Volleyball Continental China 2026).
They defeated the host nation's Chinese team in a thrilling 3-2 set final on their home ground.
This marks their 4th Asian championship and ends a long wait
by securing their first-ever ticket to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
This is the first women's team sport from Thailand to compete in the Olympics.
Previously, the Thai men's football team had qualified twice,
in 1956 in Melbourne, Australia, and 1968 in Mexico, which was a long time ago.
They returned home as "national heroines,"
whose names deserve to be inscribed in the sports hall of fame of the nation.
Even the association president, Somporn Chaibangyang, who persevered through much criticism,
has continuously built this Thai women's volleyball team over many years, enduring setbacks, disappointments, and tears.
Today, that dream, once just out of reach, has become a reality.
They proudly head to the Olympics as continental champions.
Certainly, the "historic coach" is Coach Ot Kiattipong Ratchatkriangkrai,
who initiated the "Dream Team" project from the start, selecting young athletes for systematic development.
He nurtured legends like Nootsara Tomkom, Pleumjit Thinkaow, Wilavan Apinyapong, among many others.
This effort has been passed down through generations over more than two decades, year after year.
Until Sunday, 30 August 2026 GMT+7,
when everyone's dream became reality with the awaited Olympic ticket.
This success is truly the result of collective cooperation within Thailand's volleyball community.
The next short-term goal for the Thai women's volleyball team
is to win their first gold medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan this month.
Imagine if they succeed in becoming Asian Games champions, a title Thailand has never achieved before.
At nearly the same time, "Nong Nene" will be reaching her peak,
possibly winning the AGT championship crown in America.
The happiness throughout all of Thailand would be overwhelming.
Just thinking about it already sends chills down our spines!
- Bee Bangpakong -