The Kingdom reclaimed the mantle of overall champions for the first time in a decade, with national athletes amassing a record 233 gold medals, 154 silver and 112 bronze, securing the country’s 14th overall title and finishing well clear of Indonesia and Vietnam.
Thailand fell just short of the pre-Games forecast of 241 golds, but the haul was sufficient to restore supremacy last held in Singapore in 2015, reports the Bangkok Post.
The SEA Games, staged between Dec 9 and 20, were hailed as a success both in terms of organisation and results.
The breadth of achievement underscored Thailand’s depth across Olympic disciplines, a point emphasised by SAT Governor Dr Gongsak Yodmani on Sunday (Dec 21).
He noted that athletics and weightlifting produced world-class results rarely seen at regional level, strengthening the case for a more focused strategy as the country turns to continental and global competition.
“The SEA Games have given us confidence, but the Asian Games demand a different approach,” Gongsak said.
“We will reduce the size of the delegation, emphasising quality over quantity. Selection will be rigorous, and we expect higher standards of performance. This will be a departure from Hangzhou, where we sent a large contingent. In Nagoya, we want athletes capable of delivering results.”
The 20th Asian Games will take place from Sept 19 to Oct 4 next year in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
Forty-one sports are scheduled, 32 of them part of the Paris 2024 Olympic programme. Some 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 nations are expected.
For Thailand, the event is both a proving ground and a stepping stone towards the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The SAT has already begun discussions with national federations to ensure continuous training camps and closer collaboration.
Gongsak acknowledged that the Asian Games will expose weaknesses masked at regional level, but insisted that the lessons of Bangkok will be applied.
The medal table at the SEA Games revealed striking contrasts: while combat sports such as boxing, Muay Thai, taekwondo and jiu-jitsu exceeded expectations, alongside weightlifting and cycling, traditional powerhouses football and sepak takraw faltered badly.
The men’s and women’s football squads failed to deliver any of their targeted four golds, while takraw managed only six of an ambitious 11. Eight federations, including bowling, shooting and triathlon, returned empty-handed.
By contrast, 18 sports surpassed their targets, among them badminton, gymnastics, billiards, golf and indoor volleyball.
Fifteen others matched expectations, ranging from canoeing and rugby to sailing and e-sports.