Natthaya wins first Thai women’s marathon gold since 2007
Shooters, boat racers deliver the goods again
SINGAPORE: Thai athletes added 10 more gold medals to their tally but remained third behind hosts Singapore and Vietnam in the overall standings after the second day of action at the 28th SEA Games yesterday.
Thailand expect to win in the region of 100 golds to retain the overall crown.
The kingdom’s athletes picked up three golds from shooting, another three from traditional boat race, and one each from women’s marathon, rugby, chinlone and judo.
Marathon runner Natthaya Thanaar-onnawat won the kingdom’s first women’s marathon gold since Susisa Sailomyen’s victory in Nakhon Ratchasima in 2007.
The Thai braved the elements and overpowered a strong field to capture her maiden gold medal in the biennial tournament.
The marathon commenced before dawn at the Kallang Practice Track and a shade over three hours later, Natthaya crossed the finish line way ahead of the field to claim the top honours.
Natthaya, who was clocked at 3:03:25 hours, was a minute faster than Mary Joy Tabal of the Philippines, who took the silver in 3:04:39 hours. Vietnam’s Thanh Thi Hoang was third in 3:07:14 hours.
Natthaya said after the race: “I am very happy for winning this gold medal for Thailand. I won the gold medal in the duathlon event in the 24th SEA Games in Thailand but never in the marathon competition.
“It is like a dream coming true. It wasn’t easy this morning as there was a heavy rain and it was windy out there. I had to fight hard for it [the win].”
Boonthung Srisung took the silver medal in the men’s marathon event yesterday. His time of 2:35:09 hours was 13 seconds behind Singaporean gold medallist Soh Rui Yong, who finished in a time of 2:34:56 hours.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thanh Hoang took home the bronze medal in 2:37:10 hours.
Boonthung said: “Nearing the finish line, I had cramps in both legs and could not increase the speed, which allowed the Singapore runner to take the gold. I am quite disappointed about this.”
In shooting, the Thais hit the mark at the SAFRA Yishun Shooting Range as they reaped a rich harvest of three gold medals in four events contested yesterday.
Thailand women’s shooting team set the pace when they captured the 10m air pistol event gold medal.
Trio of Phongpha Pholprajug, Tanyaporn Prucksakorn and Pim-on Klaisuban had a combined tally of 1,134 points that sealed their place on the winners’ podium.
The second place was claimed by Malaysia, who totalled 1,125 points, and the hosts, Singapore, picked up the bronze medal with 1,121 points.
Tanyaporn Prucksakorn said after the competition: “It is great to have won the gold medal for the country. Cheers from the crowd did trouble us a lot, but we tried to stay focused and we succeeded in winning the gold medal.”
The second shooting gold medal was delivered by the men’s precision pistol team of Boonthong Sowsa-nga, Thanawut Thammawai and Permphun Tapanya, who carded a total of 1,762 points.
The silver medal was taken by the Singaporean team with 1,754 points, while the Philippines took the bronze with 1,742 points.
Thanawut, who was the star performer for the team, won the third gold medal in the individual event of the men’s precision pistol competition with 232 points.
Thanawut said after the competition: “I didn’t expect to the win the gold in the individual event but I must admit that it has come as a very pleasant surprise.”
Thailand had another successful day at the traditional boat race competitions as they claimed three more gold medals yesterday.
The first gold was won in the men’s TBR 12-Crew, 500 metres competition in which Thailand finished first in a time of 2:18.835 minutes.
Hot favourites Myanmar were beaten to the second place as they clocked 2:22.086 minutes and Singapore settled for the bronze in 2:23.161 minutes.
The Thai women emulated the success of the men’s crew as they claimed the second gold medal in the TBR 12-Crew, 500 metres, finishing the race in 2:35.544 minutes.
Myanmar, who had to settle for the silver medal again, followed in 2:35.784 minutes and Singapore captured the bronze in 2:36.850 minutes.
Thailand recorded victory in the women’s TBR 6-Crew, 500 metres event as well, crossing the finish line in 2:53.098 minutes.
Myanmar were second in 2:53.582 minutes and Singapore third in 2:58.477 minutes.
In rugby, the Thai women’s team yesterday won the gold medal in the Sevens competition. Thailand had seven tries with two conversions to beat the hosts Singapore 39-0 in the final match.
The Thais also claimed the gold medal in the men’s sepak takraw chinlone nonrepetition primary competition yesterday.
Thailand defeated Malaysia in two sets with an aggregate of 264-200 points in the title showdown. Thailand took the first set 131-92 and did well in the second set as well to win 133-108.
Surattana Thongsri gave Thailand the last gold on the day after she won the women’s 63-70kg category judo competition at the Expo Hall.
The Thai exponent defeated Myanmar’s Kyaw Phyo Swe Zin in the final by ippon.
There were two silver medals as well for the Thai judo team, as Sitthipong Niemkunchon finished second in the men’s 90-100 kg category and Orapin Senatham lost in the women’s 57-63 kg final.
In swimming, Radomyos Matjiur followed up his win in the men’s 200m breaststroke on Saturday with a silver in the 100m breaststroke, while Phangkhwan Pawapotako also took silver in the women’s 200m individual medley.