Natipong Srithong-in has declared Thailand’s women’s football team ready for the Asian Games, despite a preparation period he admits was far from ideal.
The squad departed for Japan on Thursday night ahead of the 20th Asian Games, which runs in Aichi-Nagoya from Monday to Oct 2.
Thailand have been drawn in Group E alongside hosts Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam, with each group played on a round-robin basis.
Speaking about the build-up, Natipong acknowledged the squad had just two weeks to prepare but insisted the work was on track.
“Everything has been done as planned,” he said. “It was difficult to trim the squad down, because every player who came through the training camp now understands the tactics far better. We believe these 23 are the best players available to us.”
The coach noted that this group differs significantly from the 2025 SEA Games squad, though continuity in preparation has helped players grasp his tactical approach.
With several group opponents ranked above Thailand, Natipong conceded the challenge would be considerable but said his focus was on performance rather than simply progressing through rounds.