Thais reap rich rewards in Malaysia

Thais reap rich rewards in Malaysia

Boxers, badminton stars among winners

Boxer Wuttichai Masuk punches Indonesia's Sarohatua Lumbantobing in the 64kg final. PR
Boxer Wuttichai Masuk punches Indonesia's Sarohatua Lumbantobing in the 64kg final. PR

Kuala Lumpur: Thailand enjoyed their best day so far at the 29th SEA Games yesterday.

The Kingdom won two gold medals each in boxing and golf and one each in badminton, athletics, shooting and cycling.

In boxing, Wuttichai Masuk comfortably beat Indonesia's Sarohatua Lumbantobing 5-0 in the 64kg final to retain the title, while Chatchai Butdee defeated Mario Fernandez of the Philippines 4-1 in the 56kg showdown for his third SEA Games gold medal.

Nawuti Liphongyu crosses the finish line in the men's mass start.

Unfortunately, the other three Thai boxers failed at the last hurdles and had to settle for silver medals.

Thani Rarinram lost 5-0 to Muhammad Faud Redzuan of Malaysia in the 49kg, flyweight Tanes Ongjunta was edged 3-2 by Indonesia's Aldoms Suguro, and middleweight Pathomsak Kuttiya suffered a 5-0 defeat to Eumir Felix Marcial of the Philippines.

"The gold medal is for all Thais and a birthday gift for my daughter," Chatchai said.

Wuttichai said: "I am happy for myself and my country. I am looking forward to the Asian Games next year."

Pole vault champion Porrannot Purahong. ap VINCENT THIAN

Wuttichai, the only Thai gold medallist in boxing at the 2014 Asian Games, admitted that he had to improve in the defence of his Asiad title.

Although the team missed their three gold-medal target, Thailand Boxing Association president Pichai Chunhavajira said he was pleased with their overall performance.

"We are the best team of this SEA Games," Pichai said.

"The standard at this SEA Games was higher than the previous tournaments."

Thailand topped the boxing battles with two gold, three silver and one bronze medals in Kuala Lumpur, while the Philippines took home two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

In the other final, Filipino-British boxer John Marvin took just 21 seconds to clinch the light-heavyweight title and then said he wanted a quick win as he didn't trust the judges.

The 24-year-old, a lance corporal in the British Army, unleashed a barrage of punches from the bell to stop Malaysia's Adli Hafidz Mohamad Pauzi.

"It is a revenge for my colleague who lost in an unfair manner [earlier in the tournament]," Marvin said.

"I did not want the fight to be decided by the umpires [judges]. We train to get in there and destroy."

In golf, teenagers Kosuke Hamamoto and Atthaya Thitikul won the men and women's individual titles respectively.

In badminton, the Thai women's team won their third straight SEA Games gold medal after beating Malaysia 3-1 in the final.

Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai won the decisive third point against Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean to help Thailand retain the title.

Thai badminton players celebrate winning the women's team title at the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. PR

Busanan Ongbamrungphan got Thailand off to a good start, beating Soniia Cheah 21-12, 21-10.

Sapsiree Taerattanachai and Puttita Supajirakul made it 2-0 for Thailand with a 9-21, 21-11, 21-18 win over Khe Wei Woon and Vivien Hoo in the first doubles match.

Nitchaon Jindapol then lost to Goh Jin Wei 20-22, 25-23, 20-22 in the second singles match as the Malaysian players, backed by the home crowd, tried to salvage their title hopes.

But Jongkolphan and Rawinda denied Chow and Lee with a battling performance in the second doubles match to win 21-12, 16-21, 21-18 and handed Thailand their first badminton gold at the Kuala Lumpur Games.

"Overall I'm pleased with my performance today," said Busanan. "But I made a few mistakes and sometimes lost my concentration today. I will have to do better in the individual event."

The Thai men's team won the bronze medal.

The shuttlers have a rest day today before returning to action for five events -- men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles and mixed doubles -- from tomorrow.

In shooting, Ratchadaporn Plengsaengthong won gold in the women's 50m rifle prone.

In cycling, Nawuti Liphongyu took gold in the men's mass start.

He crossed the finish line in 3:25.59 hours to beat Malaysia's Mohamad Shahrul Mat Amin by more than four minutes.

It is Thailand's first SEA Games gold medal in the event in 25 years.

In athletics, Porrannot Purahong won the men's pole vault title with a leap of 5.35m.

In volleyball, the Thai women's team claimed their second successive 3-0 win in Group A.

They defeated Myanmar 3-0 (25-8, 25-10, 25-13). The victory followed their opening 3-0 win against Indonesia on Wednesday.

Indonesia and Myanmar will next battle for the second spot in Group A and a place in the semi-finals.

In Group B, the Philippines beat Malaysia 3-0. The Philippines and Vietnam, who also beat Malaysia 3-0 on Wednesday, will fight for top spot today.

The top two teams from each group qualify for tomorrow's semi-finals.

Thailand, who were runners-up at the recent Asian Championship, are hot favourites to win their 11th straight title.

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