 |
Thailand, propelled by their track and field team and ace golfers, overtook
host nation Singapore at the top of the medal standings at the Southeast Asian
Games on Friday.
Tiny Singapore had led the 11-nation table since the first medal was
decided 10 days ago but a lean return on Friday saw the city-state slip back to
second place.
With their crack swimming team unable to contribute any more after
their programme ended on Thursday, Singapore could only muster four golds on
Friday, two in taekwondo and one each in shooting and waterskiing.
With four days to go, Singapore has 70 golds, still 20 more than they
had managed any of the previous 27 editions of the region's biggest
multi-sports event.
But Thailand, who finished at the top of the medal standings at three
of the last four SEA Games, bagged 16 golds on Friday to inch into the lead
with a total of 71.
Vietnam finished the day third with 62 with Malaysia the next best on
38.
Seven of Thailand's golds came on the final day of athletics at the
National Stadium.
The Thais won both the men's and women's 4x100 metres relays as well as
golds in the women's high jump, men's long jump, women's heptathlon, women's
discus and men's 400m.
At Sentosa golf club, Thailand swept all four gold medals on offer.
Natipong Srithong won the men's individual title after beating
Singapore's Johnson Poh on the first playoff hole after both men finished the
fourth round at one-under par.
In the women's individual event, 17-year-old Suthavee Chanachai was a
runaway winner, finishing their three-round competition 11 shots clear of the
field at seven-under.
Thailand also won the men's and women's team golf events.
Badminton fans were given a fleeting glimpse of world number five
Ratchanok Intanon's brilliance as she helped Thailand win the women's team
event.
Ratchanok, 20, skipped the singles event because of a prior commitment
but says she is feeling good about her chances of winning a second world
singles title at this year's world championships in Indonesia.
"I am confident I can become world champion again, I feel much
more comfortable with my game now, especially when compared to 2013," she
said.
In waterski, Malaysia's 11-year-old child prodigy Aaliyah Yoong
successfully defended her gold medal in the women's tricks competition.
Aaliyah became the youngest ever SEA Games gold medallist when she won
the same event in 2011, but had to wait four years to defend her title after
the sport was left on the schedule in 2013.
"I have been training a lot for the SEA Games," Yoong told reporters.
"My dad says I am already a veteran and I guess I am already quite
experienced at this level." - Reuters
