Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Thailand forge substantial lead at top of table

Sports News : Monday December 10, 2007

24TH SEA GAMES / ROUND-UP

Thailand forge substantial lead at top of table

Vietnam in second but lag way behind

KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT

Nakhon Ratchasima _ Thailand took a major step to winning the overall SEA Games crown yesterday after scooping 22 golds to surge clear at the top of the medal table. The hosts have 66 gold medals ahead of second-placed Vietnam who have 29 golds with six day remaining in the biennial event.

Thailand swept all five gold medals up for grabs in dance sport.

They also won both the men's and women's team events in tennis and sepak takraw.

The Thai women's tennis team, led by Tamarine Tanasugarn, took more than eight hours to finish off Indonesia 2-1, while the men, anchored by Asian Games champion Danai Udomchoke, comfortably defeated Indonesia 3-0.

In sepak takraw, the Thai women edged out Vietnam 2-1 to win their third straight gold in the team event.

It was sweet revenge after they lost to Vietnam at the 2006 Asian Games.

In the men's team final, Thailand won their 11th crown after beating Indonesia 2-0.

Their task become easier after Malaysia and Burma pulled out of the competition in protest of the new rubber-coated ball manufactured by Thai firm Marathon.

In swimming, Thailand managed to take one gold and one bronze yesterday. The gold was won by Tharnawat Thanakornworakiat, formerly Charnwuth Sangsri, in the men's 400m freestyle.

Singapore enjoyed a strong showing in the swimming pool winning four golds from seven events.

Singapore's Tao Li, who won four golds at the 2005 SEA Games, took both the women's 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly.

Malaysia's Daniel Bego won the men's 100m butterfly, setting a new Games record of 54.33 and in the women's 800m freestyle.

The Singapore team took the men's 4x100m freestyle relay gold in a new Games record of 3:26.70. Zach Ong of Singapore won the men's 100m backstroke gold.

On the tennis court yesterday, Thailand took gold in the men's and women's team events.

In athletics, Thailand's runner Sunisa Sailomyen triumphed in 2 hours 43 minutes 33 seconds in the women's marathon.

Pa Pa of Burma took the silver in 2:44:11 and the Philippines' Jho Ann Banayag finished 30 seconds behind to win the bronze.

Indonesia's Yahuza Yahuza easily took the gold in the men's race in 2:23:46, winning by almost three minutes.

Cambodian Hem Bunting took the silver in 2:26:28 and Eduardo Buenavista of the Philippines came third in 2:27:21.

There were only two other athletics events Sunday, with Malaysia taking both golds in the 20-kilometre walk.

Teoh Boon Lim finished in 1:30:37 in the men's race and Yuan Yu Fang clocked 1:41:47 to win the women's event.

Thailand are aiming to win 150 golds out of 474 golds in 43 sports. The Games end on Saturday.

By : Bangkok Post

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