Thailand unstoppable in SEA Games
Thailand have made no secret of their aim to top the medal charts after finishing behind the Philippines at the last Games.
The hosts’ bid was helped Sunday by a win in the women’s marathon for Sunisa Sailomyen, who triumphed in 2 hours 43 minutes 33 seconds.
Indonesia’s Yahuza Yahuza easily took the gold in the men’s race in 2:23:46, winning by almost three minutes.
On the tennis court Thailand took gold in the men’s and women’s team events, while they also enjoyed success in cycling, dance sport, fencing and rowing.
Attention shifted back to track and field Monday, with nine medals up for grabs. Highlights include the men’s 100 metres hurdles and the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays.
Thailand enjoyed a winning start to the athletics competition Friday, taking home six golds from nine events on a day that saw five Games records broken.
But Saturday was dominated by Vietnam and the Philippines, who shared seven golds in track and field, while four Games records fell.
In the swimming pool, there are six medals to be won Monday, including in the men’s 50m freestyle and the women’s 200m freestyle.
Singapore enjoyed a strong showing Sunday evening, winning four golds from seven events.
Thailand’s gold medal haul puts them well on the way to their target of 150 and leaves the host nation a long way clear of Vietnam, on 31.
Singapore, third with 26 golds, have so far swept the table tennis competitions and are aiming to add the men’s and women’s singles titles to their golds in the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles and their men’s and women’s team titles.
In badminton, Indonesia and Singapore will battle for the men’s and women’s team titles and there are ten medals up for grabs on a busy day of gymnastics.
Eleven nations are chasing more than 470 gold medals at the 24th SEA Games in more than 40 sports.
Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are all taking part.—AFP