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Published on August 15, 2007

Buaban Pamang underlined Thailand's dominance in the women's javelin yesterday and set the Thammasat Rangsit Main Stadium alight with a personal best of 61.40 metres to win the hosts' eighth gold at the 24th Universiade.

Buaban had a tough task to live up to her Asian Games and Asian Championships victories. Her main challengers - Pole Urszula Jasinska and Belarussian Natalia Shymchuk - were credited with personal bests of 62.34m and 62.01m respectively.

However, the 20-year-old from Chiang Rai was an epitome of concentration. She threw 50.21m in her first throw and improved to 59.71m in the second. She was not finished yet. Buaban brought out her best with a dazzling throw of 61.40m. It was enough to take her to the top of the podium.

At the Doha Asian Games last year, Buaban's best throw of 61.31m won her the gold medal. It also came in her third attempt.

Romanian Monica Stoian also threw a personal best of 61.19m in her third attempt to pick up the silver, while Jasinska had to be content with the bronze after reaching 60.63m in her second attempt.

Buaban said: "It was great to win again. I was under no pressure though there were strong rivals. I was not sure of winning a gold because many of them had better records than I. My confidence got a boost when I saw my mom in the grandstand. She came all the way from Chiang Rai to cheer me. I couldn't let her down. "Besides, Supanut [Ariyamongkol], the national head coach, told the students to wear yellow T-shirts as a show of support. It was quite moving and I was able to do the best throw of my life.

"I am setting my next target at 65m, which will be good enough to be competitive at the Beijing Olympic Games," said Buaban, who qualified for the Olympics at the Asian Grand Prix in Bangkok a few months ago.

Meanwhile, the Thai men's quartet of Tulapong Sutaso, Sornsak Koonkaew, Supachai Phachsay and Jukkatip Pojaroen came a disappointing sixth in the 4x400m relay.

Poland clinched the gold medal, the last one awarded in the 24th athletics competition, crossing the finish line first in 3.02.05 minutes.

Earlier, the Ukrainians ran away with the gold in the women's 4x400m relay after clocking the fastest time of 3.29.59 minutes, with Russia and Great Britain second and third in 3.30.49 and 3.33.70 respectively. The Thai team - Buatip Boonprasert, Saowalee Kaewchuay, Sirinya Sukwichai and Waeowta Kongchan - finished fifth.

In the men's shot put, Russian Maxim Sidorov threw 20.01 metres to win the gold medal, while Latvian Maris Urtans and Taiwanese Chang Ming-huang came in second and third after hurling 19.38m and 19.36m respectively. Thailand's former SEA

Games gold medallist Sarayut Pinitjit finished a distant 16th overall.

Thailand's Veerapun Anunchai finished a distant 22nd in the men's 20km walk in Ayutthaya province. Chinese Chu Yafei claimed the top spot in 1:24.37 hours.

Team-mates Yongjaros Kanju and Tantipong Phetchaiya also failed in the men's hammer throw, with Yongjaros finishing in 13th place and Tantipong in 14th position.

In athletics, Russia dominated with a haul of six gold medals. Ukraine snatched five gold including two yesterday from Yuliya Krevsun in the women's 800m and the 4x400m relay. Kazakhstan finished third place with four gold medals, while the hosts claimed two from the men's 4x100m relay and Buaban in the yesterday's javelin throw.

In the basketball competition, Thailand continued their winless streak, going down 59-82 to Serbia in the women's event and 60-109 at the hands of Brazil in the men's category.

Thailand remains in eighth position overall after claiming eight gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals.

The hosts still have a chance to pass their initial target of 10 gold when their badminton players compete in two finals today. The tennis players and golfers also have a good chance to add more golds to the Thai tally.

A total of 16 gold medals will be up for grabs in six sporting events. Thailand's hopes lie in badminton and men's tennis doubles.

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

Pathum Thani