Thailand's target of winning 15-17 golds at the 15th Asian Games in Doha looks to be a mission impossible after they captured only two golds yesterday.

Thirteen days into the Games and the country has 52 medals, including 12 golds.

Thailand had hoped to win five golds yesterday through boxers Angkhan Chomphuphuang and Suban Pannon, Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana in the men's tennis doubles, Damrongsak Vongtim in the Hobie-16 sailing and Rawat Parbchompoo and Purich Pansira in the men's sepak takraw pairs.

But they came home with just two.

Damrongsak and his brother won their sailing event, while Purich and Rawat were successful in the sepak takraw.

In-form Rawat and Purich clinched the gold in the men's doubles sepak takraw by brushing off Burma in two sets. The women's pair, in contrast, have already lost to China and Vietnam and have no chance of reaching the final.

Meanwhile, luck smiled on Thai sailors on the final day of the sailing as Damrongsak and his younger brother Sakda captured the Hobie-16 gold medal.

On Tuesday, the Thais looked set to run away with the title. But yesterday, a second place in the 12th and final race was enough for Damrongsak to emerge the winner with 19 points. Korea and Singapore came second and third with 23 and 25 points respectively.

The victory was sweet for the Damrongsak, who won a silver in Busan, South Korea, four years ago.

"After I lost to Singapore in Busan, I desperately wanted this gold. I trained hard. I'm fortunate to have my brother Sakda as crew. We trained together and we had great understanding," Damrongsak said.

He also won the Super Moth gold at the Bangkok Asiad in 1998.

"I will continue preparing for the SEA Games next year. I'm not sure whether Guangzhou, the next host of the Asian Games, will stage the Hobie-16 event. I want to continue in the sport. "You can

never to be too old in sailing," he joked.

Meanwhile, Wiradech Kothny led the Thai men's sabre team to a consolation bronze medal after going down 18-45 to China in the semi-finals yesterday.

On Tuesday, Jittikan Tiemsurakan, 23, claimed a bronze medal after beating Filipina Mae Soriano in the final repecharge in the karate-do. It was a historic success for Thai karate-do as no Thai competitor has won a medal before in an Asian Games.

Also yesterday, Thai wushu exponent Khwanyuen Chanthra claimed the bronze medal after going down to Vietnamese Phan Quoc Vinh in the men's 52kg semi-finals.

Meanwhile, the Thai women's volleyball team lost a hard-fought battle to Taiwan 23-25 21-25 14-25 in the play-off for third place.

Thai head coach Suttichai Chanbunchee was disappointed. "We have done a good job only in the first set. The girls were afraid to lose.

"I'm planning to quit. I have been working hard for the past two years. I need a rest. There are so many younger coaches who are better than I and ready to come in place of me."

Today, all eyes will be on the Thailand's last gold-medal hope, Danai Udomchoke, when he takes on Korean Lee Hyung Taik in the men's tennis singles.

Other Thai athletes still with a chance include Sareerapat Pimsamsee in the men's 10m platform diving and Banna Kamfu in the women's point-race cycling competition.

Preechachan     Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

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