THAILAND UPDATED.Thai sprinter Neeranuch Klomdee won her eighth successive gold medal in the women's 4x100m relay at the 27th SEA Games yesterday.
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.
The women's 4x100m relay team successfully defended their title in 44.42sec, ahead of Vietnam (44.99) and Indonesia (45.88).
It was Thailand's 16th straight win and 18th overall in the event.
The Thai quartet _ Neeranuch, Phatsorn Jaksuninkorn, Tassaporn Wannakit and Nongnuch Sanrat _ broke their own record of 44.50sec set at the 2011 Games in Indonesia.
''We were under pressure as defending champions. It's a huge relief although we were confident that we would win,'' Neeranuch said. ''It's my eighth straight win in the event. I have won every time I competed in this event.''
The Suphan Buri athlete said Thailand had been dominant in the discipline because of their great baton-passing tactics and a big pool of runners.
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.
In the men's 4x100m relay, Thai runners _ Ruttanapon Sowan, Aphisit Promkaew, Jirapong Meenapra and Suppachai Chimdee _ took gold in 39.75sec, beating Singapore (39.79) and Indonesia (40.15).
It was Thailand's 23rd title overall in the event after they came in fourth at the 2011 tournament.
Panwat Gimsrang won in the women's hammer throw (54.96m) while Mingkamon Koomphon got bronze in the same event.
In her second SEA Games, Panwat broke Thailand's record of 51.19m with the SEA Games record being 56.0m.
Wassana Winatho was first in heptathlon with Sunisa Khotseemueng third.
In the men's pole vault, Kreeta Sintawacheewa took gold and Sompong Saombankuay bronze.
In chess, Thailand (Supat Lekcham, Nut Sutthithamwasi, Arch Boonruamboon and Worathep Timsri) won gold in the men's traditional team blitz competition.
In weightlifting, Thailand took two golds in the women's 69kg and men's 94kg.
Boonatee Klasikit won in the women's 69kg with lifts of 100kg in snatch and 125kg for a total of 225kg.
In the men's 94kg, Sarat Sumpradit managed 158kg in snatch and 194kg in clean and jerk for 352kg.
In swimming, Patarawadee Kittiya won Thailand's last gold medal in the pool at the 27th SEA Games with her victory in the women's 200m butterfly.
In all, Thailand claimed seven golds, eight silvers and eight bronzes in the swimming tournament.
The Games end on Sunday.
Thailand chase 110 gold medals
Thailand are upbeat about their chance of reaching their goal of winning 110 gold medals at the 27th SEA Games.
''We are highly likely to win 100-110 gold medals,'' Thailand's chief of delegation Thana Chaiprasit said.
Thailand have enjoyed a gold medal haul over the past few days of the biennial event.
''We have done well overall,'' he said. ''We have failed to meet target in some sports and done better than expectation in others.''
Thai wushu exponents are so far Thailand's most disappointing team. They targeted two golds but failed to secure a single title.
Thana said Thailand may not be able to win the overall title as hosts Myanmar are likely to win a lot of golds in vovinam and kempo.
But he believed his team would be the best side in international sports.
He said Myanmar had done a great job in organising their first SEA Games in 44 years while Vietnam had made fast progress in international sports.
bangkokpost.com
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.
The women's 4x100m relay team successfully defended their title in 44.42sec, ahead of Vietnam (44.99) and Indonesia (45.88).
It was Thailand's 16th straight win and 18th overall in the event.
The Thai quartet _ Neeranuch, Phatsorn Jaksuninkorn, Tassaporn Wannakit and Nongnuch Sanrat _ broke their own record of 44.50sec set at the 2011 Games in Indonesia.
''We were under pressure as defending champions. It's a huge relief although we were confident that we would win,'' Neeranuch said. ''It's my eighth straight win in the event. I have won every time I competed in this event.''
The Suphan Buri athlete said Thailand had been dominant in the discipline because of their great baton-passing tactics and a big pool of runners.
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.
In the men's 4x100m relay, Thai runners _ Ruttanapon Sowan, Aphisit Promkaew, Jirapong Meenapra and Suppachai Chimdee _ took gold in 39.75sec, beating Singapore (39.79) and Indonesia (40.15).
It was Thailand's 23rd title overall in the event after they came in fourth at the 2011 tournament.
Panwat Gimsrang won in the women's hammer throw (54.96m) while Mingkamon Koomphon got bronze in the same event.
In her second SEA Games, Panwat broke Thailand's record of 51.19m with the SEA Games record being 56.0m.
Wassana Winatho was first in heptathlon with Sunisa Khotseemueng third.
In the men's pole vault, Kreeta Sintawacheewa took gold and Sompong Saombankuay bronze.
In chess, Thailand (Supat Lekcham, Nut Sutthithamwasi, Arch Boonruamboon and Worathep Timsri) won gold in the men's traditional team blitz competition.
In weightlifting, Thailand took two golds in the women's 69kg and men's 94kg.
Boonatee Klasikit won in the women's 69kg with lifts of 100kg in snatch and 125kg for a total of 225kg.
In the men's 94kg, Sarat Sumpradit managed 158kg in snatch and 194kg in clean and jerk for 352kg.
In swimming, Patarawadee Kittiya won Thailand's last gold medal in the pool at the 27th SEA Games with her victory in the women's 200m butterfly.
In all, Thailand claimed seven golds, eight silvers and eight bronzes in the swimming tournament.
The Games end on Sunday.
Thailand chase 110 gold medals
Thailand are upbeat about their chance of reaching their goal of winning 110 gold medals at the 27th SEA Games.
''We are highly likely to win 100-110 gold medals,'' Thailand's chief of delegation Thana Chaiprasit said.
Thailand have enjoyed a gold medal haul over the past few days of the biennial event.
''We have done well overall,'' he said. ''We have failed to meet target in some sports and done better than expectation in others.''
Thai wushu exponents are so far Thailand's most disappointing team. They targeted two golds but failed to secure a single title.
Thana said Thailand may not be able to win the overall title as hosts Myanmar are likely to win a lot of golds in vovinam and kempo.
But he believed his team would be the best side in international sports.
He said Myanmar had done a great job in organising their first SEA Games in 44 years while Vietnam had made fast progress in international sports.
bangkokpost.com