Veterans prove age is no barrier
[VETERAN'S ATHLETICS] Former SEA Games champion Bancha Supannaroj had no difficulty winning his pet events - the men's shot put and discus throw - at the 11th Thailand Veterans Athletics Championships in Chiang Mai yesterday.
Bancha, 46, a former SEA Games record holder who joined the championships for the first time, won two gold medals for his Songkhla team, although his performances were not as good as his younger days. He won his first gold medal by clearing a distance of 10.94 metres in the men's 45-49 shot put event. It was almost seven metres short of his best throw of 17 metres when he was at his peak more than 20 years ago. Even though Bancha was not competing seriously, his throw of 10.94 metres was nearly two metres better than David Williams of Malaysia, who claimed the silver medal. Savong Yodsakul of Songkhla took the bronze. Bancha's second gold medal of the day came from the discus throw. He won the gold with a throw 28.61m, while Savong Yodsakul took the silver and Juintin Bin Allap of Malaysia the bronze. However, Indonesian veterans making their first appearance in the championships produced some startling performances at the Chiang Mai 700th Anniversary Stadium yesterday. And it was Margaratha Aritonong of Indonesia who astonished spectators with her sparking performance. Margaratha, 63, won three gold medals yesterday and all of her wins were very impressive and of a high standard. Margaratha won her first gold in the women's 100m 60-64 category with a time of 16.87secs. She left her closest rival, Busakorn Wong-charoenlakana of Nakhon Ratch-asima who won the silver medal, about 20 metres behind. Indonesia's wonder woman then went on to win the long jump with a leap of 3.16m for her second gold. Again it was impressive, because her leap was 1.05m better than Pailin Pinyochit from Chiang Mai, who claimed the silver. But Margaratha had more in store and surprised spectators with her amazing strength. In the afternoon she won her third gold by clearing 6.37m in the triple jump. Jaem Buatoom of Songkhla won the silver medal but was well short of Margaratha's winning leap. "I am very happy with what I have done here. I made everyone know that in Indonesia the elderly are very healthy," said the jubilant Margaratha.
Prasert Sriseub The Nation Chiang Mai
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