Gold rush continues as Thailand extend lead atop SEA Games table
Thailand enjoyed another profitable day, scooping a handsome haul of 24 gold medals to take their overall tally past the half-century mark at the 33rd SEA Games in Bangkok and Chon Buri on Friday.
The day started with romance for the Thai contingent after Ratcharat Yimprai and Kunsatri Kumsroi, a married couple, combined excellently to snatch the gold medal in the mixed duo show event of the jujitsu competition.
The couple’s triumph came as a surprise as they managed to dislodge the highly-fancied duo, Warawut Saengsrirung and Lalita Yuennan, whose glittering résumé includes three world titles, relegating their more illustrious teammates to the runners-up spot.
“I paired up with another partner to win the gold medal at the previous Games in Cambodia. This time, I teamed up with my wife.
“Our showing was like a narrative of our real life. We trained together and also had a quarrel every day,” said Ratcharat with a smile on his face.
Gymnast Sasiwimon Mueangphuan delivered the team’s second gold medal after scoring 13.367 points to secure her impressive win in the women’s floor event.
Sasiwimon’s triumph ensured the hosts completed a double in the floor competition following Tikumporn Surintornta’s success a day earlier in the men’s event, which ended the Kingdom’s 10-year wait for a Games title in the men’s gymnastics events.
It turned out to be Sasiwimon’s last contribution to the country as she emotionally announced her retirement from the national team soon after her success.
The Thai rowing team rounded off their outstanding campaign by adding two more titles on the last day of the competition to take their overall tally to 10 gold medals.
The home rowers’ double triumph came in the men’s kayak four 200m and canoe four 200m events.
Orasa Thiangkathok and Aphinya Sroichit came within a whisker of completing a treble of rowing gold medals after finishing second in the women’s canoe double 200m, crossing the line behind the Vietnamese pair by a split second.
With the euphoria over Puripol Boonson’s 9.99-second dash to win the men’s 100m title a day before yet to sink in, the Thai athletics team’s joy continued after Thai-American runner Joshua Robert Atkinson claimed the hosts’ fifth title in the track and field competition with his record-breaking victory in the men’s 400m event.
Crossing the line in 45.13 seconds, eclipsing the previous Games mark of 46.00 seconds set by compatriot Kunanon Sukkaew a decade ago in Singapore, Atkinson successfully regained one of the four titles he won at the Covid-delayed Games in Vietnam three years ago.
“The time I clocked in the final is still not my personal best. Nevertheless, I’m happy to reclaim the title on Thai soil. I’ve kept fighting, not giving up. I’ll try to win the remaining three events as well,” said Atkinson, who will also compete in the men’s 800m, the 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay in his bid to repeat his feats in Hanoi.
Defending champion Tawan Kaeodam secured the second athletics title of the day for the hosts with his victory in the men’s high jump. He retained the title after successfully clearing 2.22 metres, ahead of Singapore’s Kampton Kam and Leonard Grospe of the Philippines.
Thai cyclists also ruled the track in the BMX competition, taking the top two places in the men’s time trial event. Three-time Asian champion Komet Sukprasert (34.562 seconds) snatched the title ahead of compatriot Putthaphum Nakpaen (35.568 sec). The bronze went to Patrick Bren Coo of the Philippines (36.618 sec).
Rising swimmer Mia Millar secured a historic win in the women’s 200m backstroke with a time of 02:13.95 minutes, ahead of the Philippines’ Xiandi Chua (02:15.73) and Adelia Chantika Aulia of Indonesia (02:16.35).
The 18-year-old’s winning time broke the national record she previously set at 02:15.52 minutes, and her success was Thailand’s first in 22 years in the event since Chonlathorn Vorathamrong’s triumph back in 2003.
“I couldn’t believe I could do it. It made me very happy. It’s my first SEA Games gold on home soil.
“I’ll still focus on the 200m backstroke. It’s the event I perform best in, and in which I stand the best chance of winning a medal. I’ll keep improving as I would like to be as good as Chonlathorn,” said Mia.
As of press time, the hosts sit comfortably at the top of the medal table with 65 golds, 43 silvers, and 27 bronzes, far ahead of Vietnam in second with 24 golds, while Indonesia are third on 18.