Thailand won their first medals in Incheon yesterday, the fourth day of the 17th Asian Games, when weightlifter Rattikan Gulnoi and judoka Thonthan Satjadet both won bronze medals.
Rattikan Gulnoi won Thailand’s first medal of the Incheon Games. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL
In the women’s 58kg, Rattikan lifted 98kg in snatch and 124kg in clean and jerk for 222kg to become the country’s first medallist of the Incheon Games.
North Korean Ri Jong-Hwa (102-134-236) took gold, ahead of China’s Wang Shuai (109-126-235).
Rattikan said: “I felt under pressure because Thailand had not won a medal in Incheon. I am not happy with my performance because I did better at the London Olympics.
“But I am happy that I won Thailand’s first medal here.’’
In the women’s over-78kg division, Thonthan won bronze by walkover after her opponent in the third-place play-off, Javzmaa Odkhuu of Mongolia, got injured.
In tennis, Thailand lost in the quarter-finals in both men’s and women’s team events.
The Thai men, led by 2006 champion Danai Udomchoke, were defeated 2-1 by Japan and the women, led by veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn, lost to Taiwan 2-1.
Meanwhile, shooter Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit said that she was not 100 percent ready for the Asian Games.
The 28-year-old skeet shooter said ahead of her departure for Incheon last night that she felt a bit exhausted because she competed in the world championships in Spain last week.
“I am not fully fit for the Games,’’ she said. “It is tough to focus on two important tournaments at almost the same time. I need more time to recover for the Asian Games.’’
Although she was tipped to vie for gold, world No.6 Sutiya said that she would not put extra pressure on herself.
“I may not be 100 percent ready but I will try my best,’’ said Sutiya who will be competing in her third Asian Games.
At for the ISSF tournament in Spain, which was also a qualifying event for the 2016 Olympics, Sutiya finished ninth and failed to book a place in the final round.
“I often come close,’’ she said. “My day will come one day.’’
Sutiya came close to winning Thailand’s first ever Olympic medal in shooting at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
She also took part in the 2012 London Olympics.