Korat, Thailand - Hosts Thailand got off to a flying start in the SEA Games athletics with six gold medals Friday, and also remained on course to defend the coveted football title.
Bidding to top the medals table, Thailand dominated the first day of track and field action, winning the men‘s shot put and triple jump, 400m hurdles and 5000m.
Thai women also won the 400m hurdles and the javelin as the hosts moved on to 33 golds, ahead of second-placed Vietnam on 14.
But they missed out on the 100m, arguably the most prestigious track event, with Indonesia and Vietnam winning the men‘s and women‘s events.
Thailand also enjoyed success on the football pitch, beating Indonesia to remain on course for their eighth successive SEA Games title.
Olympic hopefuls are looking to catch the eye ahead of next year‘s Beijing Games and five SEA Games records were set in athletics, including in the men‘s 100m.
Indonesia‘s Suryo Agung Wibowo crossed the line in 10.25 seconds, breaking the record set in 1999 by .01 secs. Thailand ‘s Wachara Sondee finished second in 10.33 and Malaysia‘s Mohammad Noor Imran Haidi was third in 10.54.
In the men‘s shot put, Thailand‘s Chatchawal Polyemg threw 17.43 metres to beat the previous competition mark of 17.28 set two years ago.
In the men‘s triple jump, Theerayut Philakong of Thailand leapt 16.44 metres, outstripping the 2001 record by seven centimetres.
Vietnam‘s Truong Thanh Hang ran a record 4:11.60 in the women‘s 1500m, while Thailand‘s Buoban Pamang beat her own javelin mark with a throw of 55.97 metres.
Thi Huong Vu of Vietnam won the women‘s 100m in 11.47, followed by Nongnuch Sanrat of Thailand in 11.56 and Irene Joseph of Indonesia in 11.77.
Thailand‘s Apisit Kuttiyawan won the men‘s 400m hurdles in 50.38 and compatriot Wassana Winatho took the women‘s title in 57.21. Thai distance runner Boonthung Srisung won the men‘s 5000m.
Thailand also impressed in the pool, winning the 4x200m freestyle relay with Natthanan J. Krajang taking the women‘s 100m freestyle crown.
Malaysia and the Philippines also bagged two golds apiece while Singapore took the men‘s 4x200m freestyle relay.
Thailand maintained their perfect record in the football tournament with a 2-1 win which sent Indonesia crashing out. Myanmar qualified for the semi-finals second in Group A on goal difference after hammering Cambodia 6-2.
Group B will be completed Saturday. Laos play Vietnam and Malaysia and Singapore clash with all four teams capable of reaching the semi-finals, to be held on Tuesday.
Eleven nations are chasing a total of 475 gold medals at the 24th SEA Games in more than 40 sports.
SEA Games participants are Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: malaysia.news.yahoo.com (8 Desember 2007)