Thailand beat South Korea in straight sets for Asian Games bronze
Thailand swept South Korea 3-0 to win women’s volleyball bronze at the 2026 Asian Games, securing a fourth consecutive Games podium.
- Thailand's women's volleyball team has won the bronze medal at the Asian Games after defeating South Korea.
- The Thai team secured the victory in straight sets, with final scores of 25-20, 25-19, and 25-23.
- This result marks the fourth consecutive Asian Games in which the Thai team has won a medal in the event.
Thailand secured the women’s volleyball bronze medal at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 after defeating South Korea in straight sets at Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture on Tuesday (September 22).
The Thai team won 25-20, 25-19 and 25-23 to complete a 3-0 victory and claim their fourth consecutive Asian Games medal in women’s volleyball. The result also gave Thailand their third bronze medal in the competition.
Thailand, ranked 13th in the world and the reigning Asian champions, faced world No.28 South Korea, the two-time Asian Games champions, in the bronze-medal match.
Head coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai selected captain and setter Pornpun Guedpard alongside Thatdao Nuekjang, Kaewkalaya Kamulthala, Pimpichaya Kokram, Sasipapron Janthawisut and Chatchu-On Moksri in the starting six, with Piyanut Pannoy as libero.
The opening set was evenly contested at 4-4 before South Korea moved 8-5 ahead. Thailand responded through attacks from Thatdao and Pimpichaya, while a service ace from Sasipapron helped the team build a 15-10 advantage.
South Korea reduced the deficit to 19-15, but Pimpichaya restored Thailand’s five-point cushion. Sasipapron then added a spike and another ace as Thailand stretched their lead to 22-16 before a South Korean service error handed the first set to Thailand 25-20.
Thailand started the second set strongly and went 4-2 ahead through Thatdao and Pimpichaya, but South Korea recovered to take an 11-9 lead.
Kiattipong brought Ajcharaporn Kongyot into the match, and Thailand regained control. Sasipapron’s powerful attack helped put the team 15-12 ahead before another South Korean service error extended the advantage to 17-13.
Kaewkalaya made it 20-14 as Thailand maintained their momentum and closed out the set 25-19 to move within one set of the bronze medal.
South Korea made the stronger start in the third set, turning a 4-4 tie into an 11-8 lead. Thailand responded as their attack began to find its rhythm, with Ajcharaporn levelling the score at 12-12.
South Korea regained a narrow advantage at 17-16 as Thailand committed several errors, but neither side was able to pull clear. The teams were level again at 20-20 and 22-22 before Thailand moved to match point at 24-23.
South Korea then hit the ball into the net, giving Thailand the set 25-23 and completing the straight-set victory.
The bronze medal is Thailand’s third at the Asian Games. The team won its first bronze at Incheon 2014, followed by silver at Jakarta-Palembang 2018 and another bronze at Hangzhou 2022.
Tuesday’s result therefore extended Thailand’s run of Asian Games women’s volleyball medals to four consecutive editions.
The match also brought Thailand’s 2026 national-team season to a close, with the players now preparing to return to their professional league commitments.
Thailand finished 14th in the 2026 Volleyball Nations League, won both legs of the 2026 SEA V Cup and captured the Asian championship before ending the year with Asian Games bronze.
Their Asian title also marked a historic milestone by securing Thailand’s first qualification for the women’s volleyball tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
