Her Majesty the Queen added glittering gloss to the day as Thailand all but secured the overall title with an unassailable lead at the top of the medal standings in the ongoing 33rd SEA Games, following her triumphant campaign in the keelboat SSL47 event of the sailing competition on Thursday.
Heading into the final day of the event, the Thai team, under the guidance of Her Majesty—who excelled in her role as navigator and strategist—had virtually wrapped up the title with an insurmountable lead after seven races.
Prior to the start of the last race, His Majesty the King, sporting a white tracksuit top, boarded the Thai team’s vessel to lend support to the Queen and her fellow crew members.
His Majesty then watched as the home team sailed to another victory to complete their campaign in style.
At the medal presentation ceremony held in the evening at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Sattahip district of Chon Buri, His Majesty presented the gold medal and the Games’ mascot doll to the Queen as the representative of the Thai team.
Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, the Queen Consort of Pahang state, Malaysia, was also present at the event.
Their Majesties later posed for photos with athletes from the top three countries—Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar—on the podium.
At the National Tennis Development Center, Pruchya Isaro and Maximus Parapol Jones combined to deliver the first gold medal for the Thai tennis team after emerging victorious in the all-Thai men’s doubles final.
They claimed a thrilling 2-1 win (7-5, 3-6, 10-4) over compatriots Pawit Sornlaksup and Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul.
It marked Thailand’s first triumph in the event in eight years since the 2017 success by twin brothers Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana.
World No. 240 Mananchaya Sawangkaew was unable to make it a double success for the Thai tennis team, as top seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines— a graduate of the Rafa Nadal Academy founded by Spanish great Rafael Nadal—upset the third-seeded Thai 2-0 (6-1, 6-2) in the women’s singles final.
Mananchaya Sawangkaew
Despite missing out on the singles title to add to the gold medal she won in the women’s team event earlier, the 23-year-old Mananchaya said she was satisfied with her debut SEA Games campaign.
“I tried my best, but she has really solid groundstrokes. Eala has played consistently on the WTA circuit, which helps raise her standard,” said Mananchaya.
“Nevertheless, I’m content with my performances at the Games. I’ve just made a comeback after being sidelined by injuries for the past six months. Physically, I’m gradually getting better and better.”
On the opening day of the ice skating competition, Thai athletes achieved a historic breakthrough by winning the inaugural speed skating mixed relay event at the IWIS International Ice Skate Training Center at Imperial World Samrong.
Prior to the race, the Thai mixed relay team suffered a major blow when Chonlachart Taprom, slated to start the race, was forced to withdraw after crashing into the rink-side advertising hoarding during the men’s 500m event earlier.
However, the home team overcame the setback in remarkable fashion, leading from start to finish before crossing the line first in 2:54.442 to win the event, which featured in the SEA Games programme for the first time.
After stepping in superbly for the injured Chonlachart, Jirawat Pholkad was understandably delighted to play his part in the historic victory.
“I immediately went to warm up when I saw he couldn’t get up after crashing into the board. We didn’t have to make many adjustments since we all train together. All of us are always ready for emergencies like this,” said Jirawat.
Swimmer Kamonchanok Kwanmuang extended her excellence to open water as well, winning the women’s 10km event. It marked her fourth triumph at the home Games after sweeping three gold medals in the swimming pool.
Debutant archer Peerawat Pattanapongkiat also shone, helping Thailand wrap up their archery campaign in style with a brace of gold medals.
Peerawat first teamed up with Kanyavee Maneesombatkul to clinch gold in the compound mixed team event, edging Vietnam in a shoot-off after both sides were tied on 147 points.
He then maintained his fine form in the men’s individual compound final, defeating Malaysia’s Mohd Juwadi Mazuki 147-145 to secure his second gold on the final day of the archery competition.
“Winning two gold medals at the SEA Games has far exceeded my expectations in my first appearance for the national team. If I get another chance to serve the country, I’ll give my best,” said Peerawat.
In diving, Thailand made a big splash by claiming their first gold medal in 22 years, thanks to Chawanwat Juntaphadawon’s victory in the men’s 1m springboard event.
He followed in the footsteps of his coach Suchart Pichi, who delivered Thailand’s previous diving gold in 2003.
As of press time, Thailand topped the medal standings with 197 gold medals, 130 silvers and 93 bronzes, with Indonesia a distant second on 80 golds.
With only 84 titles remaining over the final two days, the Kingdom has all but secured the overall SEA Games crown for the 14th time and their first in a decade.
