The Paralympics are back for 2024. As the Paralympics get noticeably less coverage or acknowledgment than the Olympics, let’s get to know the Thai athletes competing in Paris this year to show our support.
First hosted in 1960, the Paralympics is an international multi-sport parasports event overseen by the International Paralympic Committee. The 2024 Summer Paralympics marks the first time Paris hosts the event, and the second time with France as the host after Tignes and Albertville joint-hosted in 1992.
Compared to the Olympics, these athletes representing the country receive less attention, and it shouldn’t be so. Let us get to know some of them together.
This time, the number of athletes representing Thailand totals to 54, with 30 men and 20 women competing in 10 categories.
[Hero and featured image credit: thirayuchueawong/Instagram]
2024 Paris Paralympics: Thai athletes you should know
Thirayu Chueawong
Category: Table Tennis (Individual)
Qualified through ITTF final ranking, Thirayu “Potae” Chueawong is one of the representatives for table tennis. Hailing from Ratchaburi province, he won a bronze medal in the team class 3 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, as well as two silvers and one bronze at the 2022 Asian ParaGames.
Rungroj Thainiyom
Category: Table Tennis (Individual)
Rungroj “Rung” Thainiyom, with muscular dystrophy, qualified for Paris Paralympics 2024 with gold medal from the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. He was the first Thai to win a Paralympic gold medal in table tennis at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, then went onto win bronze at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
Khwansuda Phuangkitcha
Category: Taekwondo (Women’s –47 kg)
From Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Khwansuda “Khwan” Phuangkitcha qualified for Paris 2024 by placing within the top six in the Paralympic rankings in women’s 47 kg class. She is officially Thailand’s first medalist at the Paralympic Games in Taekwondo, having won bronze at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 49kg category.
Hanreuchai Netsiri
Category: Men’s Archery
Hanreuchai Netsiri debuted at the Summer Paralympics in 2016, and won silver as his first Paralympic medal. He secured his 2024 Paralympics spot with results from the 2023 World Para Archery Championships in Plzeň, Czech Republic. He also participated in the 2013 World Para-Archery Champion in Men’s Recurve.
Sujirat Pookkham
Category: Badminton (Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles)
Thai para-badminton player Sujirat Pookkham is a veteran when it comes to international competitions. After starting out and becoming champion at the World women’s singles champion, she went holds 29 medals under her belt from Paralympic Games, World Championships, Asian Para Games, Asian Championships, and ASEAN Para Games. In the 2020 Paralympic Games, she won silver in women’s singles, and bronze in women’s doubles.
Amnouy Wetwithan
Category: Badminton (Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles)
Competing alongside Sujirat Pookkham in the women’s doubles category is Amnouy Wetwithan, another veteran in the international para-badminton scene. Under her belt lies a total of 31 medals from Paralympic Games, World Championships, Asian Para Games, Asian Championships, and ASEAN Para Games. She represents the Suphan Buri province.
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♬ เสียงต้นฉบับ – Phuchit Aingchaiyaphum – Phuchit Aingchaiyaphum
Phuchit Aingchaiyaphum
Category: Men’s Swimming
Phuchit Aingchaiyaphum debuted on the international stage at the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships, where he ranked ninth. He then went on to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Madeira 2022 World Para Swimming Championships, and now qualified for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. His categories are 100m freestyle S5, and 200m freestyle S5 .
Nattharinee Khajhonmatha
Category: Women’s Swimming
Nattharinee Khajhonmatha was born in 2006, and is now competing at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris at only 18 years of age. She will be participating in three total categories: 200m freestyle S14, 100m backstroke S14, and 200m individual medley SM14.
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