It is going to be an exciting year in Thailand's sporting circles as the country will take part in three multi-sport events _ the Youth Olympics, Asian Games and Asian Beach Games.
Ratchanok Intanon
The Youth Olympics will be held in Nanjing, China from Aug 16-28, the Asian Games will take place in Incheon, South Korea from Sept 19-Oct 4, and the Asian Beach Games will be staged in Phuket from Nov 14-23.
Youth Olympics
Thailand missed out on becoming the first country to host the Youth Olympics as they were well beaten in the bid to stage the inaugural event.
However, their athletes did well in the first Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2011.
They won four gold medals in badminton (two), taekwondo (one) and windsurfing (one) and took home three silvers in weightlifting.
The Thais will still pin their hopes in the sports at the Nanjing Games.
Asian Games
In the previous Asiad in Guangzhou, China in 2010, Thailand claimed 11 golds in sepak takraw (four), sailing (three), taekwondo (two), athletics (one) and amateur boxing (one).
Thai officials aim for their athletes to secure in the region of 10-15 golds at the Incheon tournament, although they admit it will be tough for Thai athletes to become successful in South Korea.
"The Chinese are dominant and the hosts are strong in several sports," said Gen Yuthasak Sasiprabha, president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT).
"Also, several countries have improved, and the participation of some former Soviet Republics such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan has made our job become tougher."
Thailand should still be the dominant force in sepak takraw as their bitter rivals Malaysia have become weak due to internal conflict.
However, Thailand are worried about South Korea who have improved drastically over the years and could be a threat to Thailand.
It will also be a difficult task for the Thai taekwondo exponents as they will compete in the birthplace of the sport.
The Thai amateur boxing team will have a mountain to climb and observers believe it will be a great achievement if Thailand win a gold in the sport in Incheon.
But Thai officials believe their athletes can seal the top honours in other sports particularly women's volleyball.
Bouyed by their triumphs at the Asian championship and SEA Games last year, the spikers and their officials are confident that they can write a new chapter in Thailand's sporting history at the Incheon event.
Thailand have never won a volleyball medal at the Asian Games but after wins against China in the semi-finals and Japan in the final at the 2013 Asian women's championship, they are looking forward to winning gold at the Asian Games.
Asian Beach Games
Thailand have been a major force in the tournament. They finished second overall behind hosts China in the previous Games in 2012 with 13 gold medals.
As the fourth Asian Beach Games will be held in Phuket, Thailand aim to win the overall title.
There are 23 sports at the Phuket tournament. Apart from water and beach sports such as swimming, sailing, beach volleyball and jet skiing, there are also muay (Muay Thai), bodybuilding, kabaddi, petanque, sepak takraw and wrestling.
Football ambitions
Fresh from regaining the SEA Games gold medal at the Myanmar tournament last month, the Thai men's under-23 football team is looking forward to success at the Asian Games.
Thailand have never won an Asian Games medal in football but have rarely been eliminated in the first round in recent years.
They have reached the semi-finals three times in 1990, 1998 and 2002, and only lost 1-0 to Japan in the second round in the last Games in 2010.
Like the SEA Games, the men's football tournament at the Asian Games is for under-23 players.
With Kiatisak 'Zico' Senamuang remaining as coach after guiding the team to glory in Myanmar and several key players still eligible for the Asiad, Thailand should have a high chance of winning a medal at the Incheon Games.
As for the full national team, they will be trying to reclaim the Southeast Asian crown.
The Thais have failed to win what is now known as the Suzuki Cup since they last won the biennial event in 2002.
The full national team will also be under Kiatisak.
But Thailand's main target is on the women's and youth sides as Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), has declared 2014 'a year of women's and youth football.'
The women's team will take part in the Asian Cup in Vietnam in May, which is also a qualifying tournament for the 2015 Women's World Cup to be held in Canada.
With five finals slots for Asia, Thailand have a high chance of finishing in the top five.
At the eight-team Asian Cup in Vietnam, Thailand are in Group B along with China, South Korea and Myanmar while Group A features the hosts, reigning world champions Japan, Australia and Jordan.
On paper, Thailand should vie for the fifth place with Vietnam who lost to the Thais at the 2013 SEA Games final.
In male youth football, Thailand will host the U16 Asian Championship in September. It is also a qualifying tournament for the 2015 U17 World Cup and Thailand will be looking forward to winning their third World Cup berth.
Thailand will also take part in the U19 Asian Championship in Myanmar in August.
It is a qualifying tournament for the 2015 U20 World Cup and Worawi hopes Thailand make it to the finals for the first time.
Ratchanok mission
Ratchanok Intanon enjoyed the best season so far of her career last year when the 18-year-old became the youngest ever and Thailand's first world champion in badminton.
She also reached the All-England final before losing to Denmark's Tine Baun. But the Thai is still the youngest ever All-England finalist.
Unfortunately, Ratchanok had unconvincing results in the final tournaments of last year and has to prove this year that she is a true champion.
She will be trying to win at the Asian Games and All-England. She also wants to play at the season-ending Super Series Finals.
Compatriots Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Porntip Buranaprasertsuk could be her rivals.
On the men's side, Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, won the men's title at the SEA Games, should soon replace veteran Boonsak Ponsana as Thailand's top player.
LPGA and PGA targets
Teenager Ariya Jutanugarn came close to becoming Thailand's first ever winner on the LPGA Tour. The 18-year-old suffered a final-hole meltdown at the 2013 Honda LPGA Thailand, blowing a two-shot lead to hand the title to South Korea's Park In-Bee.
Ariya has returned from a seven-month injury lay-off and along with her 19-year-old sister Moriya will be trying to be Thailand's first LPGA champion.
But Pornanong Phatlum, 24, could steal the show following a good year which saw her claim two top-three finishes on the LPGA Tour and win the Ladies European Tour's season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters.
On the men's side, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, also 24, will try again to become the first Thai to win a PGA Tour event.
Kiradech finished tied for third at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia, sanctioned by the PGA Tour and Asian Tour.
He should return to the event, which offers FedEx Cup points, this year to compete in the country where he won his breakthrough European Tour title at the Malaysian Open last year.
Pornanong Phatlum
