Thai athletics aims to win 17 gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games.

Thai athletics is determined to reaffirm its number one position in Southeast Asia at the 33rd SEA Games on home soil.

Puripol Boonson is Thailand's biggest hope at SEA Games 33 - Photo: SS

The Association of Athletics Thailand (AAT) has officially announced its target of winning 17 gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games later this year. This goal was set at the "Meet the Press" event in Bangkok, demonstrating their determination to surpass their previous SEA Games achievement of 16 gold medals.

At the 32nd SEA Games (2023), Thai athletics excelled, winning 16 gold medals, officially surpassing Vietnam (12 gold medals) to claim the number one position in the region.

Previously, Vietnamese athletics dominated two consecutive SEA Games in 2019 (16 gold medals) and 2022 (22 gold medals). With home advantage at the 33rd SEA Games, Thailand is very confident in its ability to successfully defend its leading position.

To achieve this goal, AAT has taken many thorough preparatory steps, including hiring an American sprint coach to improve the performance of its athletes.

Events considered to be Thailand's strengths include the 100m, 200m, high jump, javelin throw, and the men's and women's 4x100m relays.

Vietnamese athletics lost its number one position to Thailand at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia - Photo: TTO

Thailand's greatest hope in athletics rests on the "prodigy" Puripol Boonson. This young man made a huge impact by winning a silver medal in the 100m at the 2023 Asian Games at the young age of 17. He also finished second at the 2025 Asian Championships and achieved a remarkable feat by reaching the top 20 in the men's 100m at the World Athletics Championships that same year.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Pimol Srivikorn, President of the Thai National Olympic Committee, expressed her confidence that the Thai sports delegation would take the top position overall at this year's SEA Games, bringing pride to fans in the country.

With strong investment and the brilliance of young talents like Puripol Boonson, Thailand's goal of 17 gold medals and reaffirming its position as the number one athletics team in Southeast Asia will pose a significant challenge to its rivals, especially Vietnam.

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THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dien-kinh-thai-lan-dat-muc-tieu-gianh-17-hcv-tai-sea-games-33-20251113120246781.htm