For a nation that won a gold medal in the men's 4x100-metre relay and whose No-2 tennis star beat the vast region's top-ranked player to claim another gold, finishing fifth in the overall table is justified. Thailand won 13 gold, 15 silver and 26 bronze medals, a below-target achievement but a hard-earned improvement on the Busan Games, in which Thai athletes finished sixth in the final table. Considering China's runaway supremacy, the expanded participation and the improved quality of other nations, the Kingdom's athletes left Doha with their heads high.

First of all, congratulations to all our medallists and thanks to all the Thai athletes who brought us pride and something to smile about in a politically turbulent and depressing year. It's just too bad their chase for glory was overshadowed by fighting of another kind, and the return of our Asian Games heroes has been barely noticed, eclipsed by on-going political uncertainties. Politics is bad for sport, particularly in Thailand's case.

With more luck and better preparation, Thailand could have met its 15-17 gold medal target. Our women's 4x100 quartet, who were Asian champions going to Doha, were disqualified in the final for an unfortunate on-track error. The taekwondo association had targeted two golds because the Thai squad boasted two world champions and one world university champion, but the mission failed. The boxing camp had expected three golds but managed just one, but the really bad news for Thai boxers - for decades our best medal hope - is that they were beaten mostly fair and square by unexpected opponents.

Our sports authorities took heart from the fact that the number of bronze medals increased considerably, but that may be because of missing gold targets. Apart from boxing, Thailand's stranglehold on sepak takraw continues to waver, with Malaysia, Vietnam and Burma presenting strong competition against both our male and female squads. The awesome dominance of China and the general improvement in standards means that while we take great pride in our athletes' achievements, they will have to continue to stand on their toes.

Should overtaking Kazakhstan (23 gold) for fourth spot in the next Asian Games be our target? Or should we just focus on making sure the likes of Iran (11 gold), Uzbekistan (11 gold), India (10 gold), Taiwan (9 gold) do not catch us next time? The dramatic evolution of sports and the increasingly fierce competition dictate that Thailand must make its decision now.

Analysts do not question Thai athletes' talent as much as the political will. To date, the political will has been thought of in terms of last-minute cash incentives for successful athletes rather than long-term foundations. Money undeniably works, but if that's the ultimate truth, what can explain, for example, why Brunei fares so poorly in international tournaments and China is threatening the US's domination and leaving Japan in its wake? Perhaps the real challenge is neither Kazakhstan nor Iran. The political will should focus, ironically, on minimising politics in sports. The road to success, while probably rocky, is not complicated. The formula includes keeping up with and employing the latest sports science, which should be affordable for a country like Thailand, and upgraded training, which should aim for the highest international tournaments. As for our athletes, a delicate mix of self-belief and a warning against complacency needs to be instilled.

As the old saying goes, winning and losing are facts of life, especially in sports. While Thai athletes have to keep their eyes on opponents both in front and behind them, the most important thing is that they try their best to better themselves next time around. The Doha table shows they are on the way to doing that - but the Olympics will come sooner than everyone thinks.