Thailand is a small nation in Southeast Asia, but its impact on the global sporting world has not been small. Although not many Thai players are currently competing internationally, the ones that do are still national icons and pride of the people. From motorsports to the Olympics, 2024 will prove to be a stellar rise of Thailand to the global stage.
Alexander Albon, Formula One
After his impressive 2023, the second-ever Thai driver in the premier class of motorsports looks forward to an even more exciting year. Albon helped Williams to a seventh-place finish in last year’s constructors championship, their highest since 2017. The prize money, James Vowles’ leadership, along with much more advertisement and sponsorship opportunities might propel Williams to a top-five finish this year.
With an inexperienced Logan Sargeant as his teammate for another year, Albon is expected to continue in his leader role at the Grove-based team. The team is set to unveil their 2024 competitor on February 5, less than three weeks before pre-season testing commences at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The Thai has not stood on an F1 podium since the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, and William’s momentum teases us an exciting and competitive 2024. It is certainly impossible for Albon to stand on one of the 24 podiums this year and raise the Thai flag for the world to see once again.
Suphanat Mueanta, OH Leuven
After a five-year spell with Thailand’s most successful club Buriram United, the 21-year-old Suphanat got his international call to OH Leuven in the Belgian Pro League. The Belgian club is not completely foreign to Thai footballers; its owner is King Power’s and Leicester City’s Chair Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. This opportunity to work and live in a European country might help boost the young Thai’s work ethic and lifestyle, as well as prepare him for any European opportunities in the future.
Despite his juniority, Suphanat has already been highly rated in Thailand for many years. In 2018, he made his Thai League debut and scored his first league goal before turning 16, as well as becoming the AFC Champions League’s youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 8 months. 2 months after that, in June 2019, he made his senior debut for the national team and have scored six times since.
It is the best if we do not expect Suphanat to absolutely light it up in Belgium; OH Leuven is not doing well and opportunities will be limited. But, at the same time, it is also a great opportunity to establish himself as a reliable and effective substitute.
Supachok Sarachat
Suphanat’s half-brother Supachok Sarachat is four years older and rose through the ranks at Buriram United before his brother. After his debut in 2015 and a loan to Surin, his breakthrough season came in the 2016 season where he played 20 times and netted twice in the league. Since then, he has won thirteen titles with the northeastern side, including four league titles. Supachok made close to 200 appearances for Buriram, scoring 46 goals, before moving permanently to Consadole Sapporo in 2023.
Despite the long journey from home to northern Japan, Supachok did not slow down; the Thai winger was the club’s second-top goalscorer with 9 goals in 1,500 minutes, only three goals fewer than Yuya Asano but with half his playing time (3,073 minutes). More game time this year will definitely see him playing at his best and lead the team in offense.
Valued at a nation-high 30 million THB, Supachok is almost a permanent member of the Thai national team. At 25, he already has 29 caps and 7 international goals (the highest number in Thailand’s Asian Cup roster) and will surely play a pivotal role in his first-ever AFC Asian Cup tournament. Will Supachok help Thailand reach the peak of Asia? Bet on Thailand’s and Supachok’s chances now at we88.
Thai athletes in international tournaments and events
For the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics, there will be at least 17 athletes from Thailand competing in seven sports: boxing, cycling, equestrian, modern pentathlon, sailing, shooting, and taekwondo.
List of Thai athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Here is the list of the seventeen athletes or spots that Thailand has qualified for:
- Boxer: Thitisan Panmot, Chuthamat Raksat, Thananya Somnuek, Janjaem Suwannapheng.
- Cycling: Three riders, one male and two females, to be determined.
- BMX: One male rider to be determined.
- Equestrian: One rider to be determined.
- Modern pentathlon: Phurit Yohuang.
- Sailing: Two sailors, one male and one female, to be determined after the preliminary elimination event, while Arthit Mikhail Romanyk and Sophia Montgomery will represent Thailand in the medal race event.
- Shooting: Two shooters, one male and one female, to be determined.
- Taekwondo: 2020 Gold medalist Panipak Wongpattanakit qualified by ranking.
Conclusion
Thai athletes will light up the world stage in 2024. Let’s do our best to support them in their respective competitions and tournaments. These people are our representative on the international stage and are our greatest heroes.