Fantastic four give Thailand a boost
Suneeporn, Angkarn, Chaiwat, Rungroj excel
Thailand won four gold medals yesterday for their most successful day so far at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta.
The Kingdom grabbed three titles in athletics and one in table tennis at the third edition of the tournament.
The Thai champions were Suneeporn Tanomwong in the women’s 200m T12, Angkarn Chanboon in the men’s high jump, Chaiwat Rattana in the men’s 100m T34 and table tennis star Rungroj Thainiyom in the men’s singles TT6.
At press time last night, Thailand were seventh in the medal table with six gold medals, one less than hosts Indonesia’s tally.
Runaway leaders China had 67 gold medals, followed by South Korea (23), Uzbekistan (18), Japan (17) and Iran (15).
Suneeporn, who was the champion at the 2018 World Para Athletics, was aided by her guide Ekpajjai Srikamphan.
The 30-year-old Thai crossed the line in 27.84sec to beat Iran’s Safarzadeh Ghahderijani Hagar who timed 27.94.
In the men’s 100m T34, Chaiwat finished first in 16.25sec, ahead of Mohamed Al Hammadi of the UAE (16.47).
In table tennis, Rungroj, the 2012 Paralympic champion, comfortably beat South Korea’s Park Hong-Kyu 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 in the final.
“I have met my goal,” said Rungroj. “My next goal is to win gold at the world championships. It is the only major title
remaining after I won at the Paralympics and Asian Para Games.”
Rungroj will also play in the doubles in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, China won their fifth gold medal in wheelchair fencing after beating Thailand in the women’s sabre.
In the final, China’s Zou Xufeng, Gu Haiyan, Wang Xiujan and Xiao Rung defeated the Thais 45-25.
In the semi-finals, China beat Indonesia 45-30.
Thailand went straight to the gold medal match because there were only three teams in the event.
Chinese powerlifter Tan Yujiao earned gold and broke her own world record after she pushed up 140kg on her third attempt in the women’s 67kg event.
Tan bested the previous world record of 139kg that she set at the Asia-Oceania Open Championships last September.
The Games started on Saturday and ends on Oct 13.