THAILAND UPDATED. Thailand has added five more gold
medals to its total today and is now leading Vietnam 64-47. Perhaps the most
exciting competition was Jirapong Meenapra's (right) victory in the men's 100m
athletics final, becoming Southeast Asia's fastest man. He even did an
imitation of Usain Bolt's lightning gesture
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.
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.
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.
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
Also read : Medal Tally
