Thailand successful in Ashgabat

Thailand successful in Ashgabat

Thailand yesterday ended a fruitful trip to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where they more than doubled their previous best Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games haul by capturing 21 gold medals.

Swimmer Jenjira Srisa-ard celebrates after winning the 50m butterfly title. RISATO ANDO

The fifth edition of the event came to an end last night with Thailand finishing sixth overall.

The Thais were behind hosts Turkmenistan (89 gold medals), China (42), Iran (36), Kazakhstan (28) and Uzbekistan (24).

Thailand had aimed to win 18 gold medals at the 2017 tournament.

At the 2013 edition that had 12 sports, Thailand bagged eight gold medals while Turkmenistan were a distant 11th with only two gold medals.

However at this year's edition, the number of sports went up to 21 and as expected the biggest gainers were hosts Turkmenistan.

Yesterday's final day did not yield any medals to the Thai tally, which also included 20 silver and 29 bronze medals.

The Thais were dominant in their own martial art of muaythai, finishing with a massive haul of seven gold and three silver medals of which four were bagged in the men's events.

The Thai winners in muaythai's men's events were Arnon Phonkrathok (54kg), Chotichanin Kokkrachai (57kg), Ruthaiphan Sapmani (63.5kg) and Anuen Khattamarasri (71kg), while Yadrung Tehiran (54kg), Ratchadaphon Wihantamma (60kg) and Janejira Wankrue (63.5kg) claimed the women's gold medals.

The second most successful sport for the Thais was jujitsu in which they captured four gold medals.

Jenjira Srisa-ard, 22, was the pick of the Thai swimmers at the Games, claiming gold medals in the women's indoor 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly events.

The quartet of Atchima Eng-chuan, Pornpan Hoemhuk, Thanphimon Kaeodi and Piyachat Khaoluan won Thailand's only gold medal in indoor athletics, finishing first in the women's 400m relay race.

Young Nutcharut Wongharuthai added the women's 6-red snooker singles title to the Kingdom's tally, whitewashing Waratthanun Sukritthanes 4-0 in an all-Thai final.

The Thai keglers also had something to cheer about with Annop Arromsaranon winning the men's singles final.

Thailand made the women's futsal title showdown a memorable one by getting the better of Japan 3-1.

Pongporn Suvittayarak took home the men's individual poomsae (dance) gold medal from the taekwondo event and the women's 3x3 basketball team also topped their event.

Nuttanon Kadchapanan and Nicha Lertpitaksinchai raked in the mixed doubles top honours in the indoor tennis event to complete the Thai haul.

Members of the Thai women's futsal team pose with their gold medals.

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