Golden goal still far away

At the halfway stage of the 18th Asian Games, Thailand are still far from their self-proclaimed target of 17 gold medals, having going into this weekend with just six in the first eight days of competition.
Although there are still eight more days for athletes to realise their dreams, finding 11 more Asian Games champions appears mission impossible for the Kingdom’s delegation.
 After the women’s team taekwondo poomsae produced a stunning, early gold last Sunday, it’s been a sluggish period for Thai athletes. The lethargy was finally lifted by five more golds inside two days, thanks to the sepak takraw men’s and women’s regu teams and men's team doubles on Saturday, the women’s team accuracy in paragliding, the individual gold in the same sport by Nunnapat Phuchong and the invincible Panipak Wongpattanakit in the women’s taekwondo 49kg and jet-ski roundabout 110 stock by Attapon Kunsa .

Banpot Lertthaisong in men’s jujitsu 69kg

 The Taekwondo Association and the Royal Aeronautic Sports Association deserve the plaudits for over-achieving, while the Sepak Takraw Association still harbours hope of adding one more triumph. The Cycling Association, although lacking a gold, were impressive with one silver and three bronzes, while Rowing also deserved credits for producing three bronzes.
 However, weightlifting, one of the leading sports in Thailand, has yet to deliver a champion, having contributed two Olympic golds at Rio 2016. So far a silver by Olympic champion Sukanya Srisurat in the women’s 58kg has been their best result. 
The association will lose face if they come home without a gold.
 But it was the Football Association that has been widely-criticised after the men’s team failed to qualify from the group stage. They reached the semi-final four years ago but this time finished without a win in three games.
Meanwhile, Thailand should win two more golds from the highly-anticipated sepak takraw men team doubles and women’s quadrant. Boxing, golf and sailing are also expected to return one gold each.

Phadit Buree

New disciplines such roller sports, bridge, jetski and jiujitsu may come up with a few victories but gold No 17 appears out of reach and the Kingdom would need a dose of good fortune to accomplish that goal.
 On day seven of the games on Friday, Thai athletes could only produce bronze medals from rowing, jujitsu and weightlifting. 
Veteran rower Phuttharaksa Negree claimed her eight Asian Games gold after she crossed the line third (7:54.23 minutes) along with partner Matinee Raruen in the women’s lightweight double sculls. 

Phuttharaksa Negree and partner Matinee Raruen

The 44-year-old, in her sixth Asian Games since 1998, also set the record as the most medalled rower in Games history, with two silvers and six bronzes.

“I’m glad that I always win a medal every time I compete in the Games. Too bad we didn’t make it to the top three in the quadruple sculls the previous day. However, at 44, I managed to produce my best time ,” said Phuttharaksa who said that 7:54.23 minute she timed in this event was by far her best record in Asiad.
 “If I still take a good care of my body and with some help from my coach, I hope to make it to one more Asian Games.” 

Thailand's men’s quadruple sculls team

The other rowing bronze came from the men’s quadruple sculls.
 In weightlifting, Rattanawan Wamalun had to settle for third with a lift of 225kg in the 63kg division. North Koreans Kim Hyo Sim and Choe Hyo Sim seized the top two spots with 250 and 238kg.

Rattanawan Wamalun 

Another bronze medal came from Banpot Lertthaisong in men’s jujitsu 69kg.
 In sepak takraw, the Thai men’s doubles team beat Japan 2-0 to set up a final against Laos on Saturday.

In tennis mixed doubles semi-final, Sonchat Ratiwatana and Luksika Kumkhum reached the final after they beat Kazakhs Aleksandr Nedovyesov and Anna Danilina 4-6 6-4 12-10.