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Published on December 14, 2007

The host nation, propelled by highly skilled boxers and determined Muay Thai fighters, reaped a rich harvest of 35 gold yesterday to maintain their unbeaten lead with an aggregate 154 gold, while Vietnam are trailing a distant second spot with 60 gold.

Thailand's gold haul in the 24th SEA Games is likely to be an unprecedented success in the Games history. Their highest accomplishment until now was in the Games of 1995 in Chiang Mai where they clinched the overall SEA Games title with 157 gold medals.

Of the 73 gold medals on offer in the next two days, Thailand still have chances of winning gold in several events including volleyball, tennis and above all the men's soccer.

Yesterday, Thai pugilists ruled the ring to claim a full house with 10 gold medals, which included a splendid 10-4 victory by Athens hero Mans Boonjumnong in the super lightweight 64kg class. Home fighters also stole the limelight to take nine out of 11 gold at stake in the Muay Thai competition.

Thai futsal teams swept both gold on offer, with the men's team beating Malaysia 5-0 and the women's side taming Vietnam 5-2. The home women's soccer team stunned defending champions Vietnam to land the title after a scintillating 2-0 win in the final.

In judo, Wuttikrai Srisoprap and Surattana Thongsri handed Thailand two gold from the respective men's under-90kg middleweight and the women's under-70kg middleweight classes, while Thai Patree Suwansomsri won the lone gold out of eight at stake in the karate-do event.

Two-time world universiade champion Patiwat Thongsalap, Chonnapas Premwaew and Nacha Panthong bagged three gold for the Kingdom in taekwondo.

In badminton, the mixed duo of Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam saved the Kingdom's pride, after the remarkable run of other Thais including gold-medal prospect Boonsak Ponsana ended in the semi-finals yesterday.

Sudket and Saralee, current world number eight and runners-up at last month's China Open Super Series, survived a challenge against world No 2 Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir to beat Indonesians 13-21 22-21 21-16.

In today's final, the Thai team are up against  world No 4 Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa of Indonesia.

Malaysia got two gold each in men's and women's hockey and basketball competitions and men's and women's springboard events, while the Philippines followed suit, clinching both gold in softball.

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

 Nakhon Ratchasima