Topshots in fray at National Games

A record 10,859 athletes and officials from 76 provinces have confirmed their participation in the country's biggest sports competition.

Star-studded Bangkok, who captured a majority of the 306 medals on offer including 131 gold in the previous edition in Nakhon Si Thammarat, are tipped to retain their overall crown.

Wandee, the 27-year-old from Si Sa Ket, who won a bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympics but returned empty-handed from the Beijing Games in August, remains the top contender for the gold medal in the women's 58kg event. Aside from Wandee, Premsiri from Suphan Buri, who won two silver and one bronze in last year's World Championships in Chiang Mai, and Pensiri from Nakhon Si Thammarat will also be out to prove their strength.

Competitors who took part in the Beijing Games are also expected to join the fray in taekwondo and athletics.

However, many national players like badminton world No 14 Boonsak Ponsana, Suchanan Viratprasert in tennis and all boxers will skip the Phitsanulok Games to give upcoming players a chance to test their skills.

The Games will feature 33 events including athletics, swimming, kabaddi, pencaksilat, rugby football, snooker and billiards, volleyball, amateur Muay Thai, amateur boxing, ballroom dance, basketball and bridge. The host province athletes will be competing in 28 disciplines and they expect to finish in the top five in the overall medal standings.

The soccer competition kicked off on Thursday, with reigning champions Chon Buri forcing a 3-3 draw against Bangkok.

The first eight gold medals will be up for grabs tomorrow consisting of three in taekwondo, four in gymnastics and one in men's doubles billiards, while the opening ceremony will also take place on the same day at the Phitsanulok Main Stadium, the venue for five events including basketball, rugby football and athletics.