Thailand hope to surpass target in Rio

Thailand hope to surpass target in Rio

The blanket ban on Russia athletes can help the Kingdom win more than four gold medals at 2016 Paralympics

Wheelchair racers Rawat Tana, right, and Prawat Wahoram, centre, during training.
Wheelchair racers Rawat Tana, right, and Prawat Wahoram, centre, during training.

The Thai contingent is relishing in Rio de Janeiro, secured in the knowledge that the blanket ban on Russia's participation in the 2016 Paralympics can help them surpass their four-gold target.

And naturally, riches will follow the medals as the government has announced generous rewards for the successful Thai athletes at the Sept 7-18 Paralympics.

A gold winner at the Paralympics will get 7.2 million baht, a silver medallist 4.8 million baht and a bronze medallist three million.

The decision to ban the entire 267-strong Russian team from the Rio Games will not only help the Thais but other countries as well.

In London four years ago, Russia finished second on the medal table with 36 gold medals, 59 gold medals behind champions China (95).

On paper, Thailand should not find it too difficult to meet their four-gold target.

Thailand joined the Paralympics for the first time in 1984 in Stoke Mandeville and New York but it was four years later that they got their first-ever medal from Sakul Kumtan, who took home the silver in the men's javelin throw in Seoul.

It wasn't until Sydney 2000 that the Thais secured their first gold in the Paralympics, bagging five titles before recording a three-gold haul at Athens 2004.

A drop in form at Beijing 2008 saw Prawat Wahoram return home as the only Thai gold medallist.

The Thais, however, bounced back with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals in London in 2012.

The gold medals were captured in table tennis (Rungroj Thainiyom), boccia's mixed team (Pattaya Tadthong, Watcharaphon Vongsa, Mongkol Jit Sa-ngiem and Witsanu Huadpradit), individual boccia (Pattaya) and wheelchair fencing (Saysunee Jana).

Their two silver medals came in the men's 1,500m T54 (Prawat) and men's 4x400m relay (Prawat, Saichon Khonjen, Sopan Intasen and Supachai Koysub). The two bronze medals were both claimed by Saichon in 100m T54 and 800m T54.

In all, Thailand have so far bagged 13 gold (seven of them in athletics), 18 silver and 20 bronze medals in the Paralympics.

At the Rio Paralympics, 45 Thai athletes (30 men and 15 women) have qualified to compete in 10 out of 22 sports. They will be taking part in athletics (13), boccia (7), table tennis (7), shooting (5), swimming (4), archery (3), weightlifting (2), wheelchair tennis (2), judo (1) and wheelchair fencing (1).

Presenting a blend of experienced stars, including four defending champions, and young guns, the Thai contingent is in excellent shape after a year-long preparation.

Among the top gold medal contenders are wheelchair racers Prawat and Rawat Tana, Saysunee and Rungroj.

World champion Rawat has previously won two gold and one bronze medals at the Paralympic Games, all at Athens 2004.

His gold medals were in the men's 4x100m T53-54 and men's 4x400m T53-54 while the bronze was in the men's 10,000m T54.

Fresh from winning the world title in Doha last year, he is aiming to win his first individual gold medal in the upcoming Games in Rio.

However, he will not find it easy because to achieve that he has to beat Marcel Hug of Switzerland and David Weir of Great Britain. The Thai won the world titles in the 1,500m T54 and 5,000m T54 in Doha last year at the expense of both opponents.

Weir is regarded as a Paralympic legend of Great Britain after having won six gold medals in the last two editions.

"They [Hug and Weir] are strong contenders to win gold," said the 39-year-old Rawat.

"Having trained for so long, I am also confident of being competitive and winning at least one medal for the Thai fans."

In Doha, the 37-year-old Weir finished second in the 1,500m T54 and seventh in the 5,000m T54 while Hug was fifth and second in the two races respectively.

In Rio, Weir will defend four titles in the 1,500m T54, 5,000m T54, 800m T54 and marathon T54 events.

As for the 800m T54, Thailand can hope for an upset through Saichon. The 33-year-old Suphan Buri native took bronze in London behind gold winner Weir and silver medallist Hug.

As the most prolific Thai Paralympic athlete with five gold, six silver and one bronze medals, Prawat, 35, is also eager to get back into the winning circle after securing just two silver medals in London.

To gear up for his fifth Paralympic Games, the Sa Kaeo native has spent more time on preparing himself and believes he has the potential to vie for gold.

"I am better prepared than the last time as I had more time to train," said Prawat, who won two golds in Athens and one in Beijing to add to the first two he captured in Sydney.

As the defending champion in the men's singles 6 in table tennis, Rungroj does not feel excited about the Games anymore.

He said he is ready to put up another fight after recording a victory in the London Paralympics where he had entered the field as an unknown.

However, it will be different in Rio because all competitors know him now and see the Thai as the man to beat.

"They must have studied my game carefully in the hope of beating me," Rungroj said.

"However, I am well prepared and have corrected all my weak points."

The 29-year-old also called on the Thai people to treat the Paralympic athletes as normal athletes so all of them can be equally proud of donning the Thai national colours.

Meanwhile, world No.1 Pattaya is in a confident mood before defending his title in the men's individual BC1 boccia.

He is also hoping to help the team retain the title in the men's team BC1-2.

Pattaya grabbed the world title at the Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed)-sanctioned World Individual Boccia Championships in Beijing in March.

In the final, he saw off compatriot and world No.2 Witsanu, who is not taking part in the Rio Paralympics.

Pattaya's strongest rival will be David Smith of Great Britain. The 27-year-old Smith won the team event at Beijing 2008 and took the European title in 2013. He went on to win the world title in 2014 by beating Witsanu 9-2 in the final.

However, Smith failed to match Pattaya at the Paralympics where he lost 7-0 in the final and then suffered an 8-0 loss to the Thai in the semi-finals of the world championships in March.

There will be 16 athletes competing in the BC1 competition at the Rio Paralympic Games.

Worawut Saengampa is tipped to be a dark horse in the men's individual BC2 boccia after landing the world title in Beijing early this year.

Standing in his way to the gold medal will be hot favourite and local hopeful Maciel Santo, who is also the defending champion. There will be 24 athletes taking part in the BC2 boccia event.

As for the BC1 and BC2 team events, Thailand are likely to fight Great Britain and Argentina for the gold.

Meanwhile, veteran Saysunee, the winner of the world crown in 2013 and 2015, grabbed the gold medals at the women's Epee B in the 2004 and 2012 Paralympic Games and she will be looking to add another gold to her personal tally in Rio.

The 42-year-old earned her place in the Games for the fourth time thanks to her victory at the world championships in Hungary last year.

Saysunee, of Chiang Mai, is determined to defend her Paralympic title in Rio.

Apart from the veterans, Thailand can expect a varying degree of success from young prospects like swimmer Anchaya Ketkeaw and track star Kewalin Wannaruemon, who won seven and three gold medals respectively at the Asean Paragames in Singapore last year.

The Thai team's morale has been boosted by renowned monk Chao Khun Thongchai's blessings before they left for Rio.

Wheelchair fencer Saysunee Jana, centre, and other Thai athletes in Rio.

Chao Khun Thongchai sprinkles holy water on the Thai Paralympic team.

Boccia star Pattaya Tadthong kisses a well-wisher.

Table tennis player Rungroj Thainiyom practises ahead of the Rio Paralympics.

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