At 52, Thailand’s Saysunee Jana has little left to prove in wheelchair fencing. Five Paralympic Games and five gold medals speak for themselves. Yet the veteran champion continues to chase success on the biggest stage.
The first Thai woman to compete at five Paralympic Games, Jana was back on the podium at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games, adding two silver medals (women’s foil category B and foil mixed team) to her impressive collection.
“I am very happy and very proud, I am now 52 years old, so it is something very special for me,” said Jana, reflecting on her latest achievement.
For the Thai star, who has balanced the demands of elite sport with motherhood, the journey has required dedication and careful management of her time.
“I have to manage these things all the time, with the fencing time and the mum time,” she said.
Jana enjoyed one of the finest moments of her career at Paris 2024, where she claimed three gold medals in the women’s sabre, foil and epee category B events, becoming the first female wheelchair fencer to win all three individual titles at a single Paralympic Games.
Reflecting on her historic achievements, Jana said: “I am the only one who got to hold the gold medals. I am the first (Thai) woman to participate in five Paralympic Games and I’ve got five gold medals.”
Despite her success and longevity at the highest level, Jana believes there is no shortcut to becoming a champion.
“Discipline is the first thing; the second thing is to work towards the target without stopping. You must believe that you want to do it,” she said.
And her message to aspiring athletes is simple, shaped by years of experience, hard work and an enduring love for wheelchair fencing.
“Love what you are doing and do what you love.” Overall, Thailand so far have 36 medals including five gold, 11 silver and 20 bronze from the ongoing 5th Asian Para Games.
