Women's team take tennis gold in solo
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Thai women's wheelchair tennis team made the country proud yesterday as they crushed hosts Indonesia 3-0 to capture the first gold medal on offer in the sixth Asean Para Games in Solo, Indonesia.
Just a few hours ahead of the official opening ceremony at the Manahan Stadium, Thailand took their first gold from the squad. However, since only Thailand and Indonesia took part in the event, the winners were awarded the gold medal while the losers went home empty-handed.
Chusri Inthanin gave Thailand 1-0 lead over the hosts when the 38-year-old tamed Ida Yang 6-0 6-1 in the first singles match. Sakhorn Khanthasit stretched it to 2-0 when she whitewashed Laeli Yuntari 6-0 6-0 in the second singles encounter.
In the doubles match, Ratana Techamaneewat and Janhom Masay-O proved too much for Sri Atun and Naila Savitri 6-0 6-0.
Thailand, who have been the overall Games winners on four consecutive occasions, have sent 205 disabled athletes to Solo with an eye of winning around 140 gold medals, enough to retain their overall title.
Meanwhile, Indonesia, who have never been among the top three in the medal tally, won their first gold yesterday in the men’s badminton team. Indonesia, who beat Thailand 2-0 in the semi-finals, outclassed Malaysia 2-1 in the gold-medal match. Vietnam, who went down to Malaysia 2-0 in the other semi-finals, thrashed Thailand 2-0 in the third-place play-off.
