Thailand win women’s beach volleyball gold after 28-year wait

Thailand won its 14th gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after Bright Tharawadee Naraphonlaphat and Best Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee defeated China in the women’s beach volleyball final on Friday.

The fourth-seeded Thai pair beat China’s second-seeded Xia Xinyi and Yan Xu 2-1 (21-17, 13-21, 15-8) in a thrilling final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.

The victory ended Thailand’s 28-year wait for a women’s beach volleyball gold medal at the Asian Games.

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Thailand’s previous women’s beach volleyball gold came in 1998, when Manatsanan Phaengka and Rattanaporn Ala-isuk won the title.

The result adds another gold to Thailand’s medal haul at the Games, which are being held in Japan from 19 September to 4 October.