SUPHAN BURI : Suphan Buri missed out on reaching the 200-gold-medal mark as they finished the 42nd National Games with 198 golds yesterday.
Surin, yellow, beat Bangkok 40-37 in the rugby final. TAWATCHAI KHEMGUMNERD
With 632 gold medals on offer in the 11-day tournament, Suphan Buri comfortably claimed the overall title winning 124 golds more than second-placed Bangkok who got only 74.
The 198-gold haul is a new record beating Bangkok's previous mark of 129 golds set at the 38th edition in 2009.
In the third National Games in Suphan Buri, the hosts won the overall race for a second time, after their success in 1994 when they organised the tournament for the first time.
"Our athletes' performance was better than expected," said Suphan Buri governor Supeepat Jongpanich. "In fact, we did not expect to win the overall title."
With 18 golds at stake on the final day yesterday, Suphan Buri managed to get only five.
In tennis, they won the men's and women's singles titles from Wichya Trongcharoenchaikul and Nicha Lertpitaksinchai respectively.
In the men's futsal, Chon Buri earned gold with a 6-1 win over Songkhla in the final.
On the women's side, Khon Kaen beat Bangkok 9-2 in the final.
In the six-red snooker final, Tepchaiya Un-nooh won Nakhon Nayok's only gold medal with a 5-2 win over Kongkrit Ketpattanakul of Sing Buri.
In sepak takraw, Chon Buri successfully defended the title in the women's team event thanks to their 2-1 win over the hosts while Nakhon Ratchasima upset defending champions Pathum Thani 2-1 in the men's final.
In rugby, Surin narrowly beat Bangkok 40-37 to retain the title.
Nine provinces failed to get gold _ Sa Kaeo, Phetchaburi, Uthai Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Uttaradit, Narathiwat, Mukdahan, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Nong Khai. Nong Kai were placed last with only three bronze medals.
The 43rd edition will be held in Nakhon Ratchasima in December.
MEDALS STANDINGS
!G !S !B !Total!
Suphan Buri ! 198!80!80!358!
Bangkok ! 74!99!102!275!
Chon Buri ! 47!45!46!138!
Nakhon Ratchasima ! 23!32!25!80!
Nonthaburi ! 21!25!32!78!
Chiang Mai ! 19!22!33!74!
Samut Sakhon ! 17!16!14!47!