Thai cyclists defy the odds

The Thai men’s cycling team overcame Indonesia’s scorching heat to win the team time trial gold on a day when the host nation maintained its stranglehold on the medal table of the 26th Southeast Asian Games yesterday.

Nawuti Liphongyu, Phuchong Sai-Udomsin and Sarawut Sirironnachai yesterday handed Thailand its second cycling second gold after clocking two hours, 14 minutes, 06.27 seconds in the 68.5km time trial on Subang Road. Host team and pre-race favourites Ryan Ariehaan Hilm, Hari Fitrianto and Robin Manulians were cheered on by home crowds along the route but fell 36.74 seconds behind to pick up silver, with Filipinos Ronald B Gorantes, Oconer George Lui and Lloyd Lucien A Rey taking bronze in 2:15.04.78 hours. Earlier, Asian champion Chanpeng Nonthasin won the women’s 26.4km individual time trial for Thailand. 

In the petanque competition, after Thailand bagged the men’s singles gold, Thongsri Thamakord and Phantipha Wongchuvej yesterday proved an irresistible combination to add the women’s doubles title. Also grabbing gold for Thailand yesterday were the men’s bridge team and the women’s tennis team.

But the Thai taekwondo squad failed to add to their haul of seven gold medals yesterday, with bantamweight Pen-Ek Karaket – the first Thai taekwondo exponent to qualify for next year’s London Olympics – losing his semi-final to Laotian Mangkheua Sonexay, and flyweight Jerranat Karaviroj going down to Filipino John Paul Rizaldo in the final.

Defending hepthatlon champion Wassana Winatho was leading after five events, while Narongdech Janjai was defending his 400m hurdles crown, and Teerayut Philakong was aiming to defend his crown in the men’s triple jump, where his 16.51m is the Games standard. Thai sprinters were also out to stamp their authority in the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay by retaining crowns won at the previous edition in Vientiane.

On Monday, Thai athletes managed to win only three of the 10 golds at stake. Speedy Laphassaporn Tawoncharoen made a lightning start in the women’s 200m race to storm home first in 23.65 seconds with Vietnam’s Le Ngoc Phuong (silver) and defending champion Vu Thi Huong (bronze) trailing in her wake.

In the men’s hammer, Thailand’s Tantipong Petchchai went one better than his silver in Vientiane two years ago with a golden throw of 61.46m, relegating defending champion and record-holder Arriel Ferrera of the Philippines to second place with 60.19m.

Thailand’s third gold of the day came from the women’s 4x400m relay event. Long-striding Treewadee Yongphan, who shaved her hair off after retaining her 400m title on Sunday, anchored an impressive quartet for a time of 3.41.35 minutes to successfully defend their crown.

In the men’s 200m, Indonesian Franklin Ramses Burumi, who captured his first Games gold in the 100m, made it a double after clocking the fastest time of 20.93 seconds. Suppachai Chimdee (21.05s) and Sompote Suwannarangsi (21.46s) made it a two-three finish for Thailand.

Malaysian Lee Hup Wei cleared the bar at 2.15m to retain his men’s high jump title. Thailand’s Pramote Pumurai jumped 2.12 for silver. Nontach Palanupat added another silver to the Kingdom’s coffers after throwing 68.87m in the men’s javelin.

A trio of consolation bronze medals came from the women’s shot put, women’s triple jump and men’s 4x400m relay events.

Chinese-born Thai Juthaporn Krasaeyan heaved 14.37m in the shot put, while triple jump title-holder Thitima Muangjan jumped well below her Games’ 14.08m Games record with a 13.64m to claim bronze. Jakkathip Phocharoen led a Thai men’s quartet across the line in third in 3.14.90 minutes, dashing their high hopes of retaining the title.

In the swimming competition, Thais Natthanan Junkrajang and Nuttapong Ketin remained invincible at the Jakabaring Aquatic Centre. On Monday, Natthana captured her third Games gold by clocking 4.15.84 minutes in the women’s 400m freestyle, automatically qualifying her for her fourth event at next year’s London Olympics.

Team-mate Nattapong, who earlier won the men’s 200m breaststroke, clinched his second gold after touching the wall first in 01.02.30m in the 100m breaststroke on Monday. Thai swimmers have so far won five gold medals in Indonesia.

But perhaps the highlight for Thai fans on Monday came with the women shuttlers’ scintillating victory in a hard-fought final clash against hosts Indonesia, which sparked emotional scenes. Playing in front of HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, the Thais’ gutsy display captured the hearts of international media in Palembang as well as Thais from walks of life watching the final on television.

India Open winner Porntip Buranaprasertsuk put the Thais in front 1-0 before the hosts drew level by defeating Duanganong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul in the doubles. Three-time world junior champion Ratchanok Intanon stepped up to put the Thai challenge back on track by clinching the second singles rubber.

Savitree Amitrapai and Saralee Thoungthongkam then paired up to produce some brilliant play. After going in the first game, the Thai duo hit back bravely to win the second. Savitree and Saralee fought  tooth and claw in the third to emerge 24-22 winners and grab a historic gold with the first final win against the hosts in Indonesia.