Sprinter Orranut Klomdee anchored the Thai women quartet to the 4x100m relay gold in the Asian Grand Prix first leg at the Supachalasai National Stadium yesterday.

Earlier, Buaban Pamang set off celebrations in the Thai camp with a throw that fetched her a gold in the women's javelin.

The star-studded event, with an assembly of more than 200 formidable athletes, saw far more intense competition than in the previous year. The presence of nine Asian Games champions gave the three-leg series the stature it sorely needed.

The relays were of great importance to the teams as the qualification for the Beijing Olympics will be based on the two best timings achieved by teams in the IAAF-designated events in 2007 and 2008.

The Bangkok meet is one of those designated competitions.

Orranut, who spearheaded a Thai foursome that includes Nongnuch Sanrat, has won the Asian Championships gold two times in a row.

Yesterday, she proved once again that she is still a dominant force, helping the Thai team snatch the gold in 44.57 seconds and relegating China to second place in 44.79.

The victory meant that the team was richer by US$400 (Bt14,000). It also served as a reminder to China, who had won the gold in the Doha Asian Games where the Thai team was disqualified.

The Thai men's team, led by the speedy Sitthichai Suwonpratheep, failed to emulate the women. They finished second in 39.62. It was a steep fall from their record-breaking finish in Doha.

China took the gold with a time of 39.58, with the Thailand B team finishing third in 39.74.

Buaban, whose personal best throw of 61.31m got her a gold in Doha, was a clear favourite in the women's javelin. She didn't disappoint the home crowd, throwing 58.44m to take home US$1,500 (Bt52,500).

In the men's shot put, where the heavyweights were missing, Kuwaiti Ahmed Ghloum hurled 18.56m to win the gold. Indian Vij Saurabh and Thailand's Chatchawal Polyiam, a two-time SEA Games winner, finished second and third with throws of 17.82 and 17.47m respectively.

Chinese Wen Yongyi, who made a sweep of the three legs last year, proved once again that he is the best in the men's 100m, blasting off the blocks to cross the finish line in 10.44 seconds.

Watchara Sondee, a bronze medallist in Doha, and Sitthichai Suwonpratheep gave Thailand a two-three finish with times of 10.53 and 10.67 respectively.

Uzbekistan's Guzel Khubbieva, a gold medallist in Doha, who dominated the 2006 Asian Grand Prix series with a hat trick of victories in the 200m, clocked the fastest time of 11.31 seconds to win the women's 100m gold, with Sri Lankan Olympic medallist Susanthhika Jayasinghe second in 11.33.

The other winners in the Bangkok leg yesterday included Kazakhstan's Sergey Zassmovich, who jumped 2.30m in the men's high jump for gold, and Chinese Xie Limei, a gold winner in Doha, who jumped her personal best of 14.73m in the women's triple jump.

Chinese Meng Yan, a silver medallist in Doha, won the men's 400m hurdles gold in 49.47 seconds, while Iranian Abbas Samimi threw 62.61m to reign supreme in the men's discus throw.

In the men's 400m, the honour went to Chinese Wang Liangyu, who clocked 45.95 seconds, while the women's gold went to Kazakhstan's Olga Tereshkova. The Doha Asiad gold winner was timed at 53.55 seconds.

China ruled the roost in the one-day event, claiming six gold medals out of the 21 gold at stake.

The second leg of the AGP Series will be held in Guwahati, India, on June 23, while another Indian city, Pune, will host the third and final leg on June 27.

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

 The Nation