Thai officials will continue promoting extreme sports in the country after their athletes’ success at the fourth Asian Beach Games in Phuket last month.
A Thai athlete at the Asian Beach Games.
Thailand won nine gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals in extreme sports — the country’s most successful discipline at the Phuket tournament.
Thailand won the overall title with 56 golds — 40 ahead of second-placed China, the defending champions.
Piti Bhirombhakdi, president of the Extreme Sports Association of Thailand, said that the result was not beyond his expectation because the athletes had been working very hard before the tournament and trained in the US for almost one month.
“The result showed our athletes’ commitment," he said.
“They were determined to become successful before their own fans. I have to thank all concerned parties for the achievement.
“As chief of the discipline in Thailand, I will work hard with my foreign counterparts to help promote it.
"Hopefully, it is included in the Olympics in the future.”