As the Games conclude today, Thailand is set to put the icing on their success in reclaiming the overall title with a new record total of gold medals after their athletes continued to win one title after another on the penultimate day of the 33rd SEA Games on Friday.
The Kingdom already shattered the previous best overall haul of 205 gold medals set by Vietnam when they hosted the Covid-delayed Games three years ago after another profitable day for Thai athletes propelled the country to a staggering tally of 232 titles.
With three more gold medals up for grabs in sepak takraw and open water swimming on the last day of the competition on Saturday, the question now is whether the Thais can add more titles to the already record-breaking tally.
The penultimate day of the 33rd edition of the region’s biennial sporting event started promisingly for the hosts at the Thailand International Ice Hockey Arena following their success in the inaugural women’s ice hockey team event.
Playing in front of Her Majesty the Queen, who was present at the venue to lend them her support, the Thai women’s team powered their way to the title in the event featuring in the Games programme for the first time by outclassing the Philippines 13-4.
Her Majesty herself presented the gold medals to the Thai women’s team following their milestone success.
The national men’s ice hockey team then agonisingly missed out on a chance to complete a double success following their dramatic 3-2 loss to Indonesia, who grabbed the title with a late winner.
Thailand’s speed skating team concluded their campaign with a flourish by brilliantly sweeping three gold medals on the last day of the competition at the IWIS International Ice Skating Development Center in the Imperial World Samrong department store.
Talented teenager Thanutchaya “Meena” Chatthaisong took centre stage by having a hand in all of the Thai team’s triple titles, winning the women’s speed skating 500m and 1,500m events herself before inspiring the country’s victory in the women’s speed skating relay 3,000m class.
Thanutchaya “Meena” Chatthaisong
Meena’s triple crowns, plus her triumph in the inaugural speed skating mixed relay event a day earlier, ensured she set a record for the biggest personal haul with four titles since the sport was incorporated into the region’s biennial multisport tournament.
Dr. Suwanna Silpa-archa, president of the Figure and Speed Skating Association of Thailand, was left purring with the Thai team’s outstanding exploits at the home Games.
“We claimed one gold medal from figure skating events and six titles in total from speed skating. It’s the biggest success we’ve ever achieved at the Games.
“Meena is our pride as we groomed her since her childhood. She’s high on confidence this year and did the job perfectly. Not only does the association look after our athletes physically, but we also look into psychological issues and everything around them. All these things culminated in our success today,” said Dr. Suwanna.
Meena’s four-gold medal tally is also the joint personal best achieved by Thai athletes on home soil along with swimmer Kamonchanok Kwanmuang.
“Deep down, I’m quite confident I could win four golds. Prior to the competition, there was some pressure, though, since there’s no room for error. But once in the race, I gave it 100 percent.
“I would like to dedicate the titles I won to my parents as well as Dr. Suwanna, who has always supported me since I started learning the trade until becoming the SEA Games champion,” said a delighted Meena.
On the last day of table tennis competition at Central Westgate Shopping Mall, Suthasini Sawettabut marvelously rallied from 3-1 down to edge out compatriot Orawan Paranang in a seven-game thriller (14-12, 5-11, 2-11, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-8) in the women’s singles final.
It is Suthasini’s first singles title in 10 years after she last won the event at the 2015 Games in Singapore. Her singles success also ensured she swept all three titles available in the women’s events following her earlier triumphs in the doubles and team categories.
The Thai women’s basketball team came close to dethroning 19-time champions the Philippines after they staged a stirring fightback to move to within two points in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter, only to end up losing 73-70, much to the disappointment of the partisan crowd at the packed Nimibutr Stadium.
Chanokpon Jiumsukjai and Chawisa Intakul replicated the form that saw them win the Korea Open in South Korea last month to deliver the sixth title for the Thai gymnastics team following their success in the mixed acrobatic pair event, chalking up 18.367 points ahead of the Philippines (17.600) and Vietnam (17.584).
The six-title haul Thai gymnasts achieved at the home Games exceeded the pre-tournament target of six gold medals set by the Gymnastics Association of Thailand (GAT), leaving the association vice president Dr. Kusumarn Prasertsri full of praise for their achievement.
“We managed to win at least a title in each of three gymnastics disciplines — artistic, rhythmic and acrobatic. It’s definitely a beyond-expectation success. Our next mission is to prepare the team for the Asian Games in Japan next September,” said the GAT vice boss.
At the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, the Kingdom claimed their first men’s volleyball title in eight years by ousting three-time defending champions Indonesia in a five-set thriller (25-20, 16-25, 25-23, 23-25, 15-12).
There was more joy for the hosts in the water polo competition after the Thai women’s team managed to retain the title for the fifth consecutive time by seeing off Singapore 11-8 in the riveting final at the Thammasat Water Sports Center.
Cyclist Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn wrapped up the Thai cycling team’s campaign in style by delivering the 10th title with his impressive triumph in the men’s points race event.
Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn
Following a botched attempt by the Thai men’s football team to reclaim the most coveted title, Thai fans’ mood worsened further after the national men’s futsal team slumped to a shock 6-1 loss to Indonesia in their final round-robin match.
The upset win against five-time defending champions Thailand enabled Indonesia to finish level at the top of the standings on nine points, but they ended up winning the title thanks to a better head-to-head record.
