I fulfilled a 10-year dream, says golden Rungroj
Rungroj Thainiyom was basking in the glow of success yesterday after clinching Thailand's first ever gold in the hotly contested Paralympics discipline of table tennis on Sunday.
The triumph was a 10-year dream come true for the 26-year-old, who first burst onto the international scene at the 2007 Asian & Oceania Championships in Seoul, where he captured the gold medal plus the Best Player Award and a berth for the Beijing Paralympics. He failed to make his mark in Beijing, but left for London recently with hopes high as third seed in the Class 6 (athletes with one form of muscular dystrophy) category. He confirmed his status by beating Denmark’s Peter Rosenmeier 3-2 (11-9 5-11 7-11 11-9 11-6) in the semi-finals.
Then came the final and a more daunting obstacle in the shape of top seed Valera Alvaro, aged 30. But Rungroj produced a dazzling array of shots to eclipse the Spaniard 11-8 11-8 12-10 and grab the 10th gold for Thailand in Paralympics history.
Swimming, wheelchair racing and fencing are the other Paralympics disciplines in which Thai athletes have reigned supreme over the years.
Rungroj will be rewarded with a Bt4-million cash incentive by the National Sports Development Fund.
Rungroj credited his father, Pol Lt-Colonel Chayanan, for introducing him to table tennis at the age of 12 to help improve his arm strength.
“I’m delighted about winning the gold. It’s a dream I have waited 10 years to fulfil,” said a newly bald Rungroj. “I have shaved my head to fulfil a vow I made if I won gold.”
“As for the cash incentive, I will split it two ways – one part for a new house for my mother, and the remainder for my training,” said the athlete, who will next compete in the team event tomorrow. Jutinan Bhirombhakdi, chairman of the Thai Paralympic Committee Foundation, congratulated Rungroj. “I am thrilled for him. Actually, his performance was not unexpected. By training hard and competing internationally, Rungroj has reached his best form.”
Thailand had more reason to celebrate on Sunday night when Saichon Konjen clinched a bronze medal in the men’s 100m after clocking a personal best of 14.10 seconds. A cash incentive of Bt1 million now awaits the wheelchair athlete.
At press time yesterday Thailand were 36th in the medal standings with one gold medal and one bronze.
