Thanongsak claims double in swimming

A one-day haul of 22 gold medals enabled Thailand to maintain their comfortable lead in the medal tally after the Games kicked off officially on December 15. Thailand have perennially dominated the biennial sports festival for the handicapped athletes to win the Games overall title four times in succession. This time, they have set a target of capturing 140 out of 420 gold medals at stake in Solo, enough to earn them a fifth straight overall crown.

After surging ahead of hosts Indonesia to move to the top of the medal tally on Friday, Thai athletes yesterday excelled in several disciplines and athletics in particular.

 Thailand captured the lion's share of 11 gold medals in the athletics competition, leaving the host side to pick up only six gold. However, Thailand bagged only seven gold medals in the swimming event, one gold short of what Indonesia had achieved yesterday.

 The Thai archers also fared well to claim two gold medals, with the host nation taking one.

Blind swimmer Thanongsak Hitakun claimed a double, winning the men’s 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke yesterday. He had already won a gold medal in the Games on Friday.

 Veteran Panom Lagsanaprim, a highly-experienced blind swimmer from Trang, also proved that age does not matter to become an accomplished athlete. The 42-year-old bagged two gold medals yesterday in the men’s 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke events.

 After three days, Thailand are on top of the medal tally with 47 gold, 34 silver and 26 bronze medals. They are followed by hosts Indonesia with 36 gold, 37 silver and 36 bronze medals. Vietnam came in third place with 20 gold. Malaysia and the Philippines are in fourth and fifth places with 17 and 10 gold medals respectively.