Luksika canters to second gold at Games

As expected, Thailand’s No 1 tennis player Luksika Kumkhum lifted the SEA Games women’s singles gold medal after a one-sided win over unfancied Ana Clarice Patrimono of the Philippines 6-0 6-1 in the final at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Making her first appearance in the singles after taking part only in the team event two years ago in Singapore, Luksika dominated the final with her superior strokes to win the match, which was delayed by tropical rain for a few hours.

“It’s such an honour to win this gold medal as I haven’t played the SEA Games singles event before,” said Luksika, who also won the team event in the ongoing Games a few days ago.

“Patrimono must have been exhausted after playing three tough sets in two days. In fact, she was trying to raise the level of her game at the beginning of the second set but I didn’t give her much of a chance. I think, she lost her momentum after losing the first set 6-0,” said Luksika, who has three SEA Games medals in two years.

The Thai No 1 skipped the US swing and the US Open qualifying tournament, that coincided with the Games, to be in Kuala Lumpur.  “Representing the country always comes first to me. I think I made the right decision,” said Luksika, who is on a winning streak after bagging the US$25,000 ITF events in Hua Hin and in Nonthaburi.

In the men’s singles, Thailand failed to retain the title when young Jirat Navasirisomboon, who dethroned top seed Ly Hoang Nam of Vietnam in three tough sets on Friday, went down to 2013 champion Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia 6-4 6-4.

Later in the day the Thai tennis team won their fourth gold by Sanchai Ratiwatana and Nicha Lertpitaksinchai in the mixed doubles.

Women's golf team 

In golf, 14-year-old Atthaya Thitikul, who won the individual gold medal on Thursday, grabbed her second gold medal when she and Thitapa Iamtragul combined to beat Indonesia 2-0 and win the women’s team event at the Mines Resort Country Club in Selangor.

In the men’s team event, Kamalas Namuangruk, Witchayanon Chothirungrueng and Sadom Kaewkanjana had to settle for silver, losing to Singapore in the play-off.

Chenrop Samphaodi 

In football, a late header from Chenrop Samphaodi propelled Thailand to the semi-final win over Myanmar 1-0 and a highly anticipated final showdown with Malaysia on Tuesday at 7.45pm Bangkok time.

Thailand won a total of nine gold medals on Saturday. Apart from women’s tennis singles, mixed doubles  and women’s golf team, Thai athletes also won six more gold medals in wakeboard, taekwando, skeet and trap, petanque men’s team and athletics women’s discus throw and men’s 4x400m relay.

In wakeboard competition, Patiwat Jaemjan won the gold medal for second successive time, producing 69.78 points to beat countryman Tassanai Kuakoonrat, who had 69.22 points.

Yodchai Pachonyut won the men’s trap which was the second gold medal from skeet and trap after Jiranunt Hathaichukiat won the men’s skeet.

Pongsaporn Suwitthayarak and Ornrawee Sreesahakkj won the taekwondo mixed doubles poomsae.

In athletics, Subenrat Insaeng won her fourth SEA Games women’s discus throw gold medal with a distance of 55.23 metres.

The men’s 4x400m relay which comprised Kunanon Sukkaew, Nattapong Kongkraphan,  Jirayu Pleenaram and Phitchaya Sunthonthuam concluded the day with the ninth gold medal after timing 3:07.25 minutes to beat Vietnam’s 3:07.20 min.