Thai Women’s BMX riders hope to reach the 2020 Olympic Games

“Cycling” receives good news. Thai girl BMX rider points to have the right to compete in 2020 Olympic Games in Japan after having a vacant quota in 2 positions. As “Seth. Muek” is going to send two young Thai riders “Chutikan Kitwanichsathien” and “Waranya Sae Tae” to collect accumulated points in “UCI BMX Supercross World Cup” round 3-4 on May 29-30 in Colombia.

 “Seth. Muek” Gen. Decha Hemkrasri, President of Thai Cycling Association (TCA), under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King, revealed that as the TCA is preparing to send two Thai national team riders, namely “Nong Fah” Miss Chutikan Kijwanichsathien and “Nong Ming”Ms. Waranya Sae Tae go to compete to collect accumulated points in order to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan in “UCI BMX SupercrossWorld Cup”, round 3-4 on May 29-30 in Bogota, Colombia. Fifteen Dot I (15.ie) recently published an article analyzing the chances of the qualification for 2020 Olympic Games in the BMX (female) category on May 7.

President of the TCA added that, with regard to the above analysis, although Thai female riders have dropped accumulated points from the first 11 nations of the automatic qualification rankings, but as per the criteria set by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), there must be nations from all continents qualifying to compete in the Olympic Games. While any nation from Africa is no qualification at all, Egypt, as the highest-ranked nation, has the right. But there is a high chance that Egypt, which lacked female BMX riders, will waive the rights. On the other hand, Japan is automatically entitled as the host nation. Therefore, the quota is vacant in 2 positions. As a result, Thailand has an opportunity to have the vacant quota. Even though we didn't go to Verona, there are still two other rounds in Bogota between May 29-30.

“From said reason, unfortunately, Thai riders missed the opportunity to collect points in the first two races in Verona, Italy due to visa issues and the coronavirus vaccination schedule that the two will receive a second vaccine on May 12. However, two young Thai riders, Chutikarn and Waranya, are determined and set a goal that the 3rd and 4th round races in Bogotá have to be the best in the rank to collect as many points as possible. At this time, riders from Belgium will be the main competitor, we have to hope that they will not to get points either in Verona or in Bogotá because their scores are very close to two Thai riders and are key competitors to compete for this final quota,” said General Decha.

In this regard, Gen. Decha also added that Thai female BMX riders are training hard to collect Olympic qualifying points in Colombia. They have settled and practiced at Samerkan Circuit, a BMX track in Suphanburi province under the close control of “Coach Boss” Mr. Atharachai Mayo, a Thai coach, and Mr. Adam Carey, an Australian trainer, who cannot leave Australia yet, but use an online technical analysis, training and consulting methods to Thailand every day.

The "Coach Boss" revealed that he and riders will receive the second dose of vaccine on May 12 to complete the dosage as prescribed by the pharmaceutical company. As for the itinerary, riders and staff will travel on May 21 with KLM Airlines, leaving from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 11.15 pm, it will stop by in Amsterdam, the Netherlands before flying directly into Bogota. While the program of “UCI BMX Supercross World Cup” in Bogota on May 29 is the 3rd round consisting of the races in qualifying round to the finals both men and women. The competition on May 30 is the 4th round as same schedule as the 3rd round both men and women.

As for "Nong Fah" and "Nong Ming", they said that we would also like to ask for encouragement from Thai people. We will do our best to collect accumulating points from the round 3-4 in Bogota to get the right to pass into the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. This is the first time in our life to compete in the Olympic Games.