Thailand showcased its rising prominence in youth beach volleyball by earning silver medals in both the boys’ and girls’ events at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. The victories were made possible by the ongoing support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Programme, which has been instrumental in developing young talent across the continent.
Girls' Competition Highlights
At Sama Bay, Natthawiw Khampila and Butsaba Hanmon of Thailand displayed top-level performance by:
- Winning all seven of their preliminary matches in straight sets
- Reaching the final unbeaten before a narrow 2-1 (19-21, 21-12, 16-14) loss to China’s Zhuang Ming and Fan Yuhan
Their teamwork and consistency marked them as top contenders and a promising duo for the future.
Boys' Competition Highlights
Thailand’s male representatives, Kittiwat Suwansirirat and Boonyarit Maneewan, impressed similarly by:
- Going undefeated in sets en route to the final
- Claiming a 2-0 (21-14, 21-16) win over China in the semifinals
They ultimately secured silver after a close 2-0 (21-15, 23-21) match against Kazakhstan’s Alikhan Agabek and Orazali Sagynysh.
Other Medalists
- Girls' Bronze: Kazakhstan’s Gayana Galash and Merey Kozhakhmet defeated Malaysia
- Boys' Bronze: Indonesia’s Hafiyan Azam Nuruddin and Fairuz Bayhaqly won over China
Broader Impact
With 11 girls’ and 12 boys’ teams from 13 countries participating, the event demonstrated the growing strength of youth beach volleyball in Asia. Thailand’s double podium finish reflects the impact of structured programs, enhanced by expert coaching such as that of Brazil’s Adriana Bento.
Their performance underscores how targeted investment and high-quality coaching are beginning to transform aspirations into podium finishes. Thailand’s silver double proves that a focus on development is paying dividends on the sand.
