On 27 October 2025, Khon Kaen University (KKU) athletes travelled to North-Eastern University in Khon Kaen Province to compete in the official regional selection round for the 51st Thailand University Games (TUG), branded as the ‘Pho Lom Tarn Games’. This qualifying round is being held from 27 October to 3 November 2025, and aims to select representatives from universities in the Northeast to participate in the final TUG competition, the ‘Inthanin Games 2026’, scheduled to be hosted by Maejo University in Chiang Mai Province from 9–19 January 2026.
On the first day of the regional competition, the KKU athletes delivered excellent results across several sports categories. The men’s Sepak Takraw team showed strong form, defeating the team from Suranaree University of Technology 2–0 sets and subsequently beating the team from Loei Rajabhat University 2–0 sets. In basketball, the men’s team suffered a defeat against Suranaree University of Technology with a score of 61–74.
However, the men’s volleyball team secured a victory over Udon Thani Rajabhat University 3–1 sets. In women’s futsal, the KKU team performed outstandingly, winning against Roi Et Rajabhat University 3–1. In the men’s futsal category, the KKU team fell to Nakornratchasima College 0–2.
Furthermore, in the Pétanque category, KKU achieved notable success. Both the men’s and women’s doubles teams successfully qualified for the final segment of the Thailand University Games. Both KKU men’s teams (KKU 1 and KKU 2) secured victories in the first and second rounds, while both women’s teams (KKU 1 and KKU 2) overcame competitors from various institutions in their initial rounds and playoffs, proudly guaranteeing their spots as Northeastern region representatives in the finals.
The competition programme continues on 28 October 2025, with KKU scheduled to compete in several events, including men’s futsal against Nakhon Phanom University at 09:00 hrs, women’s Sepak Takraw doubles against Ubon Ratchathani University at 11:00 hrs, and both men’s basketball and women’s volleyball against Udon Thani Rajabhat University at 13:30 hrs. The Pétanque competition continues from 09:00 hrs onwards.
Khon Kaen University encourages all ‘Mor Din Daeng’ community members and supporters to send moral support to the KKU athletes as they strive to perform to their full potential and qualify for the ‘Inthanin Games 2026’ at Maejo University early next year, thereby continuing to bring honour and pride to Khon Kaen University.
