Saichon clinches medal and huge pay day
Play
Wheelchair athlete Saichon Konjen, who won four silver medals and a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, picked up his second bronze medal in London on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Thai, who won his first bronze in the men’s 100m, finished fourth in the 800m finals after clocking 1:30.51 seconds but was promoted after third-placed Zhang Lixin of China was disqualified.
“I’m happy about being shifted up to third because this is not my favourite category. I’d live to thank all Thai fans for their support,’’ said Saichon, who was vying to win his maiden Paralympics gold last night in the 400m T54 category.
Britain’s David Weir, who beat Thailand’s Prawat Wahoram to gold in the men’s 1,500m and 5,000m race, took his third London Paralympic title with a time of 1:37.63, with Swiss Marcel Hug clinching silver in 1.37.84.
Saichon’s bronze medal guarantees him a bonus of Bt1 million from the National Sports Development Fund, plus Bt300,000 from Ichitan green-tea tycoon Tan Passakornnatee and Bt200,000 from former prime minister Banharn Silapa-archa. Thailand have surpassed their initial target of two golds in London, so far claiming six medals including three gold and one silver to stand 31st in the medals table.
