Onus on takraw stars again to boost tally
Thailand’s sepak takraw players will have little room for error at the Asian Games in Indonesia if the nation is to improve on the 12 overall gold medals it won at the last edition of the multi-sport event at Incheon 2014.
Thailand finished sixth in the medals table in South Korea with 12 golds, seven silvers and 28 bronzes. Sepak takraw, native to Southeast Asia, accounted for four gold medals for the Thais.
The Sports Authority of Thailand expects its athletes to return home from the Aug 18-Sept 2 Games in Jakarta and Palembang with 17 gold medals, with sepak takraw topping the gold medal expectations with four.
Thailand have claimed 22 out of 33 Asian Games gold medals awarded in the sport and have finished as the best nation in each of the last five editions of the continental gathering.
“We’re confident of winning the gold medal in the three-man team. For the twoman team, we must get a medal because this is the first time we take part in the category,” Thai men’s team coach Kamon Tankimhong said.
There will be six gold medals on offer in sepak takraw — four for men and two for women.
However, Thailand are allowed to take part in only four events.
The Thai men’s team comprise 15 players for sepak takraw, which sees players twist and turn their bodies in mid-air to send a rattan ball into the opposing court using any part of their bodies except hands and arms.
Thai women’s team coach Veerat Na Nongkai said the 12-member women’s squad were fully ready for the quadrant and team regu events.
Golf and weightlifting have been predicted to bring two golds each.
The weightlifting squad are spearheaded by 2016 Olympic gold medallists Sopita Tanasarn and Sukanya Srisurat.
The golf team are led by teenage prodigy Atthaya Thitikul, the low amateur at this year’s two professional major events — the ANA Inspiration in April and the Women’s British Open earlier this month.
In taekwondo, Panipak Wongpattanakit, a bronze medallist at the Rio Olympics, is a favourite to win gold.
Nicknamed Tennis, the 21-year-old from Surat Thani has claimed gold medals at the 2014 Youth Olympics and 2015 world championships among other titles.
Thai boxers are hoping to punch above their weight and win multiple golds.
“Boxing in Asia is one of the toughest in the world. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and India all have powerful boxers,” Thailand Boxing Association technical chief Somchai Poonsawat said.
“So I keep telling my boxers ‘you need to win at the Asian Games first if you want to win at the Olympics’.”
Wuttichai Masuk, the only Thai boxer to win gold at Incheon, is again the boxing team’s best hope for the top prize in Indonesia.
While there are medal targets, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told the athletes to also enjoy themselves in Indonesia, reminding them that they will also be their country’s representatives at the continental showpiece.
“Sports are used to build good relations at the global level, just like the North and South Korean nations,” he told the athletes at a gathering this month.
“You should enjoy the experience and at the same time make friends during the Games. We give priority to the medals but we should not forget to take this opportunity to build good friendships.”