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Published on September 25, 2007

Despite four fighters featuring in the finals of the men's boxing category, the capital team, which dominates the medal standings with 119 gold, found themselves in the unfamiliar situation of watching other sides celebrate success.

Bangkok could not have asked for a harder first assignment of the day in the finweight division where low-profile Apirak Kumsuwan was up against Phetchabun's Kaew Pongprayoon, once a national fighter.

There was no surprise in the outcome and Kaew's 24-7 victory only reflected a gulf in class between the two fighters.

Bangkok's fortunes did not improve in the other two classes, light flyweight and featherweight, where their boxers, Somkiat Hemvijit and Treedanai Sangtaweesuk, went down in close fights.

The miserable day for the Bangkok fighters ended with an upset result. Tan Dhansamak, a boxer of national rank, was surprisingly beaten by unfancied Yutthapol Sudnongbua of Nakhon Sawan.

However, the capital's dominance was restored in the tennis doubles final, an all-Bangkokian affair.

It could have been a perfect day for Bangkok's badminton team had Vasin Ninyok not lost to Nonthaburi's Peerawut Samredpol in the three-set final in the men's singles. A victory would have made it four out of four following successes in the men's, women's and mixed doubles events.

The capital gained some measure of redemption in the table tennis with the victories in the men's singles and mixed doubles.

The battle for the second spot heated up with Suphan Buri making a strong charge with a seven-medal haul to move within two gold medals of current runners-up Chiang Mai, who clinched just a single win yesterday to take their tally to 36.

A total of 31 gold medals are at stake on the final day of the event, with the prospect of Bangkok surpassing the figure of 127 gold they achieved at the previous edition in Suphan Buri.

Kitinan Sanguansak

The Nation

Nakhon Si Thammarat