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After earlier claiming gold in the 25m standard pistol team, Pongpol fired a total of 684 points to beat Singaporean Gai Bin and Vietnamese Nguyen Manh Tuong into second and third respectively.

But a Thai team weakened without the experience of Jakkrit, who was expelled on Saturday following a fight with the team management, fired a sub-standard 1,615 for third. Singapore won the gold with an impressive 1,646 on aggregate, with Vietnam's 1,618 pipping Thailand to the bronze.

"I was under pressure but I also felt confident because I have prepared well,'' said Pongpol who is looking forward to shooting alongside his father Vorapol in the rapid-fire pistol tomorrow.

"I'm quite nervous about competing against my dad. He taught me to shoot and now we are competing for the country in the same team."

Noppadon Sutiviruch, who was summoned to replace Jakkrit at short notice, fired a disappointing 522.

"I wasn't well enough prepared - I only knew I was competing two days ago. The result was well below my standard,'' said Noppadon, whose other team-mate, Kanitpong Gongkum, shot 539 points.

Laos won the women's individual 10m running target mixed, while Vietnam dominated the team event.

Thailand's national team manager Pol-General Burapa Ritsungket admitted that the shooting association would have to re-assess their target after Jakkrit's removal. Burapa has lowered his sights from 12 to 10 golds.

However he remains adamant that his decision to axe the shooter was the right one.

"Key figures in the shooting association, the Thai Olympic Committee and the Thai Sports Authority understand that I have to abide by team rules. I will perform my duties until the end of the Games then continue if I'm commissioned for the job,'' Burapa said.

Missing gold : review announced

The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has lowered its gold medal target in the 25th SEA Games but is still confident the Kingdom will retain its overall title in Laos.

The organisation had set its sights on 100 golds from the biennial sporting event, but with the tournament already beyond the halfway stage, SAT governor Kanokphand Chulakasem has admitted that there is a strong likelihood that the team will fall short.

"Many of our sport associations are facing problems, particularly in the shooting where they have already lowered expectations from 12 to 10 golds.

"There are also other factors contributing to the Thais' poor showing this year. In some disciplines strong competition is coming from foreign-born athletes adopted by countries, while in the others we have made mistakes and missed out on the gold.

"Given the current state of play, I think we will clinch around 85 to 90 golds, but that should be enough to claim the overall title."

General Yutthasak Sasiprapa, president of the Thai Olympic Committee, revealed there would be a review on the national team's performance at the Games.

"We have to accept that many Asean countries have made a huge leap forward, which has meant that we have failed to take more titles. But I'm still convinced that, even though our target of a hundred golds is slipping out of reach, we can still end up on top of the standings.

"However, each sport association has homework to do after the Games. They need to review their work - the preparation of the athletes in particular - in order to improve our chances of success in the future," said Yutthasak.