Pramote wins silver medal in high jump

Pramote from Pathum Thani smashed Thailand’s men’s high jump record of 2.19m, established in the Asem Youth Games seven years ago by Torlarp Sudjuntam, by jumping 2.26m, just 0.02m short of qualifying for the Olympics.

Pramote’s effort secured him only the silver medal as Ghazal Najd Eddin jumped the same height, 2.26m, in his first attempt. The Syrian was awarded the gold. Iranian Ghanbarzade Keyvan picked up a bronze with a jump of 2.23m.

All eyes were on the Thai women’s 4x100m relay team, which wanted to make amends for its loss in the first leg at Supachalasai National Stadium last week. However, the Thai quartet had to be content with a silver after clocking 44.35 seconds. China claimed gold yet again with a time of 43.96s. Thailand B team took the third place in 48.28s.

China’s men’s quartet claimed the 4x100m relay gold in 38.65s. Hong Kong and Taiwan finished second and third places in 38.71s and 39.39s respectively. 

In the men’s 100m event, China’s Zhang Peimeng, who won the gold last week, proved once again that he is the best in the discipline. He crossed the finish line at 10.44 seconds. Iran’s Ghazemi Reza took second place in 10.51s. Thailand’s Jeerapong Meenapra finished seventh in 10.67s.

Sprinter Guzel Khubbieva of Uzbekistan emerged as the fastest runner. She clocked 11.39 seconds to seal victory in the women’s 100m, leaving Kazakh Victoria Zyabikina and Vietnamese Vu Thi Huong to take home silver and bronze medals with times of 11.74s and 11.76s respectively.

Thailand’s Jamras Rittidet claimed bronze in the men’s 110m hurdles in 13.83 seconds. The gold medal went to China’s Jiang Fan, who cleared the distance in 13.54s, relegating last week’s gold medallist Almandee Abdulaziz of Kuwait to second place in 13.69s.

Chinese Sun Yawei took her second gold in the three-leg series in Thailand when she clocked 13.22s to win the women’s 100m hurdles event.

India swept both gold medals on offer in the 400m, with MR Poovamma taking her second gold in Thailand after crossing the finish line first in the women’s race with a time of 53.01s.

India also made a clean sweep in the 4x400m relay events, with their men’s team clocking the fastest time of three minutes, 07.82 seconds and their women’s quartet, 3.36.82 minutes.

India captured another gold through Maheswary Renjith, who produced an impressive effort of 16.61 metre in the men’s triple jump.

Pol Maj-General Surapong Ariyamongkol, secretary-general of the Athletic Association of Thailand, said the Thailand women’s 4x100m relay team remains the best bet to qualify for the Olympics, though the runners have failed to make their mark in the first two legs.

“Our women’s 4x100m relay team is currently ranked 20th in the world. Only the top 16 will make the cut for London. I’m not sure whether the team can make it. Some members of the team will miss intensive training next month due to their busy work schedule,” Surapong said.

“We are slowly coming to the realisation that only two Thai [track and field] athletes will make the cut for the Games – Wanida Boonwan in the women’s high jump and Supanara Sukhasvasdi Na Ayutthaya in the men’s long jump. With the Games fast approaching, I think our athletes will find it too difficult to qualify for the Games.”

The third and the final leg of the Asian Athletics Grand Prix will take place at the Chon Buri Physical Education Stadium, Chon Buri tomorrow.