Puripol chases Asian Games 100m gold after 9.95-second heat win
Puripol Boonson runs a season-best 9.95 seconds to reach the Asian Games 100m semi-final, with the gold-medal race set for 8.20pm.
Thai sprint star Puripol Boonson will continue his bid for the Asian Games men’s 100-metre gold medal on Friday (September 25, 2026), after producing the fastest time of the qualifying round in Nagoya.
The 20-year-old, widely known as “Bew”, is scheduled to compete in the semi-finals from 5.33pm Thailand time. If he qualifies, he will return for the final at 8.20pm. The races can be followed on Channel 9 MCOT HD and AIS PLAY.
Puripol opens campaign with 9.95-second run
Puripol made an impressive start to his Aichi-Nagoya 2026 campaign on Thursday, winning Heat 1 of the men’s 100m in a season-best 9.95 seconds at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
His time was the fastest across the qualifying heats and just 0.01 seconds outside his personal best of 9.94, set at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.
Puripol finished well clear of China’s Zeng Keli, who clocked 10.22, while India’s Animesh Kujur was third in 10.36.
The result puts the Thai sprinter in contention to improve on the silver medal he won in the men’s 100m at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Chutithat Pruksorranan will also represent Thailand in the men’s 100m semi-finals.
Thai sprinters also through in women’s 100m
Thailand will have two runners in the women’s 100m semi-finals.
Jirapat Khanonta won her qualifying heat in a personal-best 11.45 seconds, while Sukanda Petraksa finished third in her heat in 11.54 seconds to advance.
The women’s semi-finals begin at 5.13pm, with the final scheduled for 8.10pm.
Thailand’s athletics schedule for September 25
- 5.13pm: Women’s 100m semi-finals — Jirapat Khanonta and Sukanda Petraksa.
- 5.33pm onwards: Men’s 100m semi-finals — Puripol Boonson and Chutithat Pruksorranan.
- 6.40pm: Men’s hammer throw final.
- 7.15pm: Women’s 400m heats.
- 7.43pm: Men’s 400m heats.
- 8.10pm: Women’s 100m final.
- 8.20pm: Men’s 100m final, subject to qualification.
Athletics events are being held at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.
