Vongtim brothers and Noppakao favoured for gold
Noppakao Poonpat and three-time Asian Games hobie 16 gold medallists Damrongsak and Kitsada Vongtim are the two favourites for the gold medals in Inchoen, the Yachting Racing Association of Thailand (YRAT) said yesterday.
YRAT captain Piyasak Nilnimitr was confident that the Vongtim siblings, barring any accident, should win the hobie 16 for the fourth time while Noppakao, who won the dinghy optimist in 2010, stands a good chance of winning the 29er this time.
Thailand produced three gold medals from sailing in Guangzhou. Apart from the Vongtim brothers and Noppakao, Keerati Bualong was the other Thai who won a gold medal from Laser Radial.
“Damrongak and Kitsada have long experience at the Asian level. They always finish among the top three, no matter the event they compete in Asia. So they have the best chance again this time,” said Piyasak.
“Noppakao has grown up and no longer can compete in the optimist class which she won four years ago. So she has entered the 29er and is our gold medal prospect. We are also sending Wichapa Waiwai in this category and she is capable of winning a medal as well,” the YRAT official said.
All sailors are already in Inchoen as they need to get accustomed to the conditions.
“In sailing, circumstances play a significant role in sailors’ performance. So they have to train in Inchoen quite early. Besides, they are told to be very careful about their health. No matter how good they were before the Games, if they get sick during the competition, all the effort would go waste.”
Meanwhile, national badminton coach Sompol Kukasemkij says that the country can only hope for a medal at the Asian Games. Sompol explained that several key players, including the 2013 world champion, Ratchanok Intanon, Busanan Ongbumrungpan and Boonsak Ponsana are not fully fit.
“Ratchanok was ill before the World Championships and is still recovering while Boonsak just returned to training after tripping at home. Busanan, who won a bronze at the Youth Olympics, has picked up a leg injury.
“So it will be a tough assignment for the badminton team with all these players not being 100 per cent. We therefore set the target of only one medal,” Sompol said.
According to the Sports Reporters-Photographers Association of Thailand’s poll, Thailand should win 14 gold medals from the Games: 4 from sepak takraw, 3 from shooting, 2 from boxing, sailing and volleyball and 1 from taekwondo. Thailand will field 517 athletes in 33 sports, skipping only wushu, squash and modern triathlon. The Sports Authority of Thailand has predicted that the country would win 13-15 gold medals while the Olympic Committee of Thailand set a target of 9-10 golds.
