The good, the bad and the ugly

After 12 days of fierce competition in Palembang and Jakarta, Thailand emerged from the 26th Southeast Asian Games in second place overall after capturing 109 gold medals, a tally that fell well short of their initial target.

The Thai squad had initially set their sights on winning around 125 golds, though the Olympic Committee of Thailand reduced the target to 116 due to the mental and physical impact of the flood disaster on athletes’ preparation.

Thai competitors were also hampered in their gold-medal hunt by the inclusion of more parochial sporting disciplines, such as fin swimming, paragliding and martial arts shorinji kempo and vovinam.

The 26th edition of the Games saw Thai athletes enjoy mixed fortunes, scenes of happiness and triumph contrasting with heartbreak and tears, often on the same day and at the same venue.

The biggest let-down for local hopes undoubtedly came in the men’s soccer tournament. Soccer is the most popular sport in the country, but Thai hearts sank when their team failed to make any mark and crashed out miserably in the first round for the second Games in succession. Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi had been confident that his soccer squads would clean sweep the three gold medals at stake – in the men’s under-23 football, and the men’s and women’s futsal tournaments.

He had proudly announced a handsome Bt10-million reward for the men’s soccer team, should they deliver the gold medal. But things quickly turned sour when performances failed to live up to expectations. The first-round exit was a further blow to Thailand’s fast-eroding status as a powerhouse in regional soccer.

But there were also good-news stories among the athletes from the 39 Thai sports associations taking part in the Games, many of whom returned with heads held high after stunning rivals with unexpected medal-winning performances.

The Thai weightlifters set an initial target of five gold medals in Palembang, but quickly surpassed it with a dazzling display of power that eventually plundered nine golds, four of them coming thanks to new Games records.

Swimming was another sport in which local athletes made an unexpected splash, defying even the highest hopes of the Thai Amateur Swimming Association. Going into the Games, the Association was eyeing just two golds, counting on swimming queen Nutthanan Junkrajang and talented Natthapong Ket-in to deliver. The duo did just that but then went on to hit the jackpot, pouring eight gold medals into Thai coffers including five from Nutthanan in individual events.

Martial arts disciplines brought more pride to flood-hit Thailand, with the nation’s fighters putting on a ferocious display to reign supreme with seven gold medals each from the taekwondo and amateur boxing tournaments. Beijing Olympic silver medallist Worapoj Petchkhoom was crowned king of the SEA Games ring with his fifth consecutive gold at bantamweight. 

Out on the water, Thai canoeists and sailors gave fans at home plenty more to cheer about as they powered their way to nine gold medals, five coming from the canoeists.

Among the team competitions, volleyball and sepak takraw produced strong campaigns from the Kingdom’s representatives. The women’s indoor volleyball team remain invincible to win the SEA Games title for a 16th time, while the men’s side gained sweet, golden revenge over defending two-time champions Indonesia after their loss two years ago in Vientiane.

A huge thumbs-up also went to the women’s basketball and badminton teams. Their gutsy displays were handsomely rewarded with well-deserved gold medals.

In the gold-mine presented by track and field, although Thai athletes managed to reach their initial target of 14 titles, matching their effort of two years ago, they failed to make the grade in several disciplines including the men’s 4x100m relay. The men’s quartet led by Watchara Sondee emerged empty-handed from the final after finishing a disappointing fourth place – the first time in 26 years that they failed to win gold.

Whether good, bad, or ugly, valuable experience has been gained by all Thai athletes and associations at these Games. Their task is to take whatever lessons have been learnt and use them to build for the next SEA Games, in Burma, two years from now.