Thailand targets 110 golds in SEA Games

Kittaya Patarawadee shows off her 200m Butterfly gold medal, one of 59 golds won by the Thais so far. 110 golds remains the overall goal for the 27th SEA Games.

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Neeranuch Klomdee, second left, and her teammates celebrate winning the women’s 4x100m relay at Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Thailand targets 110 golds in SEA Games

May not be enough to offset Myanmar's advantage in local sports

Thailand has taken a strong lead in the medals table at the 27th SEA Games with 59 golds. Their nearest rival is Vietnam with 43, followed by Indonesia with 39.

Many more golds are still to come says Thailand's chief of delegation Thana Chaiprasit. "We are highly likely to win 100-110 gold medals," he said.

"We have done well overall," Mr Thana said. "We have failed to meet the target in some sports and done better than expectations in others."

Interestingly, 100 or more gold medals may not be enough to be the overall leader by the end of the Games on Sunday, Mr Thana said.

Host Myanmar are likely to win a lot of medals in obscure local sports such as vovinam and kempo. Thus, the international sports table should be the one to watch and Thailand is expected to dominate.

Yesterday was another big gold medal day for the Thai athletes. Attention was focused on Thai sprinter Neeranuch Klomdee who won her eighth successive gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay.

The women's 4x100m relay team successfully defended their title in 44.42sec, ahead of Vietnam (44.99) and Indonesia (45.88).

Neeranuch will also compete in the women's 100m today and she hopes to win another gold medal in her final SEA Games appearance.

''It will be my last SEA Games,'' said the 33-year-old Neeranuch,  who hopes to take part in next year's Asian Games before retiring.

The men's 4x100m relay winners get ready to display the Thai flag after their victory. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Thailand also claimed the men's 4x100m relay crown and three other titles in athletics yesterday following a slow start on the opening day of track and field on Sunday.

Thai men and women celebrate after winning the regu events. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Thailand yesterday continued their supremacy in sepak takraw, winning two more gold medals in the men's and women's regu events.

There are 10 events in sepak takraw at the Myanmar Games with each country allowed to take part in a maximum six events. Thailand have won five of their six events. Thailand, who had won in the men's and women's team events and men's hoop takraw, are hot favourites to triumph in their last event – the women's doubles.

Some of the best SEA Games action shots come from the sepak takraw competition in which cameramen catch the athletes in seemingly impossible positions. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Meanwhile in Yangon, the Thai football team, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, dominated for long periods but could not break Cambodia's tight defence, with 'Messi Jay' Chanathip Songkrasin and Chananan Pombubpha squandering several chances.

The match ended in a 0-0 draw. It was Cambodia's first point of the football tournament. Thailand ended up at the top of its group with eight points after Indonesia upset host Myanmar 1-0 yesterday.

Adapted from stories in today's Bangkok Post.

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