Kingdom plunders gold in canoeing, sepak takraw, petanque

With six titles at stake in the rowing competition yesterday, Thai canoeists ruled the roost with three gold and two silver medals. Talented Kasemsit, whose second gold came in the 500m kayak event on Thursday, remained in top form in the men’s 200m event yesterday, crossing the line first in 36.578 seconds to clinch gold.

The second gold came from Rungsawan Suansan, who snatched victory in the men’s 200m canoeing after storming home in 41.666secs, while the men’s pairing of Nares Naoprakon and Phanudet Phetmikha proved invincible in the men’s 200m two-man event to cross the line first in 38.692.

The two silvers were won by Rungsawan’s sister, Kanokpan Suansan, in the women’s 200m kayak, and a quartet that included Kanokpan in the women’s 200m team event.

Thailand’s sepak takraw squad swept both gold medals on offer in the team events, with the men’s side crushing hosts Myanmar 3-0 to underline their regional supremacy with a 10th straight SEA Games title.

The last match of the single round-robin sepak takraw team competition yesterday saw Thailand pitted against hosts Myanmar in both the men’s and women’s events. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar opposition leader and 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was at Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium to support the hosts.

In the petanque competition, Thaloengkiat Phusa-at and Suksan Piachan combined well to deliver another Thai gold in the men’s doubles.

Earlier, mountain-biker Peerapol Chaochiangkwang won the day’s first gold for the Kingdom after clocking 1:33.20 to cross the finish line first in the men’s Olympic cross-country event. Compatriot Chutamas Wongpadkland picked up silver in the women’s event with a time of 1:21.20.

Elsewhere, Thailand’s shuttlers ensured one more gold after booking an all-Thai mixed doubles badminton final. And Thai players snatched two more finals berths, in the men’s and women’s singles yesterday.

Second seed and world No 18 Busanan Ongbamrungpan powered past Vietnam’s Vu Thi Trang 21-7 21-8 for a final against Indonesian Bellaetrix Manuputty, who stunned Thai world No 12 and top seed Nichaon Jindapon 21-17 20-22 22-20 in the women’s semis. 

In the men’s event, world No 12 and second seed Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk produced a come-from-behind 2-1 (17-21 21-11 21-12) victory over Indonesian Yuli Prasetyo Wisanu for a final against Indonesian Hayom Rumbaka. In the mixed doubles, Maneepong Jongjitr/Sapsiree Taerattanachai, after outclassing Malaysians Tan Ain Quan/Pei Jing Lai 21-15 21-17, will battle it out against compatriots Nipitpon Puangpuapetch and Puthita Supajirakul.