By Graham Thomas
Thailand topped the boccia medal table at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, with Withun Chanthakhat and Ladamanee Kla-han among the athletes leading a successful campaign that delivered an impressive eight medals.
The Thais just edged out Indonesia, who maintained their remarkable recent record of winning gold medals on the international stage.
Both nations finished with four gold medals, but Thailand’s greater overall medal haul – they also collected two silvers and two bronzes – secured top spot in the sport.
Thailand’s individual champions included Chanthakhat, who edged Singapore’s Aloysius Gan 4-3 in the men’s BC3 final, and Kla-han, who defeated South Korea’s Sunhee Kang 4-2 to win the women’s BC3 title.
“This was the biggest event of my life so I feel very happy and fulfilled to get the gold medal,” Chanthakhat said.
“It is an exciting time.
“I was very nervous before the final, a bit scared wondering if I could do better.
“Now I’m proud of myself that I am the champion and can bring the gold medal back home.”
The Thai champion revealed that his wife has been a major inspiration throughout his boccia career, while his immediate plans involved finding a suitable place at home to display his prize.
“I love sport and I love boccia but it is my wife who inspires me to play the game and win the medal,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to going home and finding the best place in my house to display the gold medal!”
Kla-han’s triumph (pictured above) added an Asian Para Games title to her World Championship success in Seoul, underlining Thailand’s strength in the sport as athletes build towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
“I’m proud of myself. I just feel so happy,” she said.
“I’ve been preparing myself for both competitions. I’ve practised and practised as much as possible.
“I try to do my best in every competition.”
Thailand’s success extended beyond the BC3 events. Witsanu Huadpradit continued his extraordinary record by winning the men’s BC1 title for the fifth consecutive Asian Para Games, while Pornchok Larpyen claimed gold in the men’s BC4 competition.
Indonesia, however, once again demonstrated why they are the leading elite force in international boccia, matching Thailand’s four gold medals and producing three individual champions before adding victory in the mixed BC1/BC2 team event.
Handayani Handayani set the tone with a remarkable comeback to win the women’s BC1 title, recovering from 4-1 down against Malaysia’s Angeline Lawas before securing a dramatic 5-4 victory.
The Indonesian world ranked No.1 has enjoyed a landmark year after winning the BC1 world title at the World Boccia Championships in September.
Handayani Handayani of Indonesia.
Her success in Nagoya made 2026 a particularly memorable season for the 30-year-old, who reflected on the significance of adding Asian Para Games gold to her achievements.
“I’m very happy and excited. It has made me cry. To be world champion and now Asian Para Games champion is wonderful,” Handayani said.
“This has been a great year for me. Now I just want to go home to Indonesia.”
Her determination proved decisive in the final, with Handayani refusing to concede despite the size of her deficit.
“I knew I could still win. I never gave up and just kept fighting. I never thought I wouldn’t win,” she said.
“I didn’t give up. I knew in my heart.”
Handayani’s achievement was followed by another Indonesian gold through Gischa Zayana, who defeated Hong Kong’s Hiu Lam Yeung 6-5 in the women’s BC2 final.
Zayana had established a 5-0 advantage before seeing her opponent fight back, but she held her nerve when the contest tightened.
“I am just so happy and grateful for all the support I have to compete,” she said.
“I got bronze at Paris (2024 Paralympic Games), so to get gold here, I really am so delighted.”
Zayana admitted she had to put an earlier mistake behind her to secure victory.
“I knew I had made a mistake, but I just had to forget about that and just focus on the final end to get to win.”
Felix Ardi Yudha completed Indonesia’s individual gold-medal treble by winning the men’s BC2 title, recovering from a 3-0 deficit against Thailand’s Phakphum Linchum to prevail in a tight final.
“The match was very tight,” said Yudha.
“I was able to keep focused and enjoy the match even though my Thailand opponent had a 3-0 lead.”
The Indonesian credited the support of his coaches and teammates for helping him manage the pressure, adding that he hoped the victory would make him an even stronger competitor in future tournaments.
Indonesia went on to secure a fourth gold through the mixed BC1/BC2 team of Yudha, Zayana and Muhammad Syafa, who beat Thailand 11-3 in the final.
The result confirmed boccia as Indonesia’s most successful sport at the Games, with four gold medals.
Hong Kong also enjoyed a strong tournament, with Vivian Lau Wai Yan winning the women’s BC4 individual title after defeating compatriot Cheung Yuen 7-2 in an all-Hong Kong final.
“I am so excited. It is like I am in a dream,” said Lau.
“I didn’t have any hopes of winning the gold before I came here, or even a medal.
“I just wanted to focus when I had to and just enjoy all the matches. I didn’t just think about medals.”
With Thailand leading the medal standings and Indonesia matching its gold-medal tally, the competition highlighted the depth of Asian talent across the classifications.
Individual events
BC1 Female
- 🥇 Gold: Handayani — 🇮🇩 Indonesia
- 🥈 Silver: Angeline Melissa Lawas — 🇲🇾 Malaysia
- 🥉 Bronze: Jeralyn Tan Yee Ting — 🇸🇬 Singapore
BC1 Male
- 🥇 Gold: Witsanu Huadpradit — 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🥈 Silver: Jovin Tan — 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🥉 Bronze: John Loung — 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China
BC2 Female
- 🥇 Gold: Gischa Zayana — 🇮🇩 Indonesia
- 🥈 Silver: Hiu Lam Yeung — 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China
- 🥉 Bronze: Ahyoung Choi — 🇰🇷 South Korea
BC2 Male
- 🥇 Gold: Felix Ardi Yudha — 🇮🇩 Indonesia
- 🥈 Silver: Phakphum Linchum — 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🥉 Bronze: Worawut Saengampa — 🇹🇭 Thailand
BC3 Female
- 🥇 Gold: Ladamanee Kla-han — 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🥈 Silver: Sunhee Kang — 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🥉 Bronze: Beibei Yang — 🇨🇳 China
BC3 Male
- 🥇 Gold: Withun Chanthakhat — 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🥈 Silver: Aloysius Gan — 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🥉 Bronze: Kazuki Takahashi — 🇯🇵 Japan
BC4 Female
- 🥇 Gold: Vivian Lau Wai Yan — 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China
- 🥈 Silver: Yuen Cheung — 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China
- 🥉 Bronze: Noor Askuzaimey Mat Salim — 🇲🇾 Malaysia
BC4 Male
- 🥇 Gold: Pornchok Larpyen — 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🥈 Silver: Yuk Wing Leung — 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China
- 🥉 Bronze: Yuansen Zheng — 🇨🇳 China
Pairs events
BC3 Pairs
- 🥇 Gold: Kazuki Takahashi / Ayaka Sekine — 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🥈 Silver: Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha / Aloysius Gan — 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🥉 Bronze: Hong Kong, China — 🇭🇰
BC4 Pairs
- 🥇 Gold: Hong Kong, China — 🇭🇰
- 🥈 Silver: China — 🇨🇳
- 🥉 Bronze: Thailand — 🇹🇭
Team event
BC1/BC2 Team
- 🥇 Gold: Indonesia — 🇮🇩
- 🥈 Silver: Thailand — 🇹🇭
- 🥉 Bronze: Hong Kong, China — 🇭🇰
Boccia medal table
| Rank | Nation | 🥇 Gold | 🥈 Silver | 🥉 Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1= | 🇹🇭 Thailand | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 1= | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 🇯🇵 Japan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | 🇸🇬 Singapore | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | 🇨🇳 China | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 7= | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 7= | 🇰🇷 South Korea | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 11 | 11 | 11 | 33 |
