Thailand swept both gold medals in futsal after beating Malaysia in the men and women's finals at the SEA Games yesterday.
The Thai men fended off a rally to edge Malaysia 4-3, while the women's team hammered the hosts 12-0 with ease in their last games of round-robin tournaments.
The men's team topped the single-league standings with nine points, followed by Malaysia and Vietnam, who both finished with seven points each. The hosts took the silver medal on the basis of a better goal difference.
The victories continue Thailand's total domination of futsal, which is the only SEA Games discipline in which the Kingdom have swept both men and women's gold medals since the sport was first introduced at the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima.
The Thai women showed hosts Malaysia no mercy, hitting 12 unanswered goals past their rivals in the last match of the single-league competition to capture their fourth straight SEA Games gold medal.
The women's futsal team got down to business swiftly, netting their first goal in the opening minute when Darika Pienpailun found the net before adding the second five minutes later.
Darika's strikes opened the floodgates as Hathaichanok Thepakul and Sirunya Srimanee quickly followed her suit. Patcharaporn Srimuang and Hathaichanok hit the mark to ensure a massive 6-0 upper hand for the Thais at the end of first half.
Jiraprapa Nimrattanasing and Sasicha Phothiwong then added their names to the score sheet soon after the break.
Hathaichanok completed her hat-trick before fine efforts from Norhara Yashin, Muthita Sangkram and Jenjira Bupha completed the Malaysian massacre.
The win gave Thailand 10 points after three wins and one draw.
They previously won the futsal gold medals at the 2007, 2011 and 2013 SEA Games.
The event was not contested at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.
Hosts switch final venue
Hosts Malaysia have changed the venue for their tomorrow's men's football final with Thailand, but War Elephants coach Worrawoot Srimaka said his men have become used to such switches.
Malaysia defeated Indonesia 1-0 after striker N Thanabalan produced the winner in the 85th minute of the second semi-final on Saturday night.
The organising committee yesterday informed the Thai team officials that they have moved the gold medal clash from Bukit Jalil National Stadium to Shah Alam Stadium, claiming that the original venue is closed for preparations for the closing ceremony on Wednesday.
Thailand, the two-time defending champions, have played only one game at Shah Alam where they finished tied 1-1 with Indonesia in their first Group B match.
Commenting on the change, Worrawoot said: "It doesn't matter because since we have arrived here they have been changing things around.
"Malaysia are a strong team and they will have a massive support from the crowd."
The final will kick off at 7.45pm (Thai time) and will be broadcast live by Channel 3.