Gold For Thailand

[sriracha john]

In the just concluded match for the Gold Medal in Sepak Takraw at the Asian Games, Team Thailand beat Malaysia in a well-contested series.

Congratulations to the entire team's excellent effort.

Khun Suebsak in the Tekong position was especially tough.

[sriracha john]

The absolutely amazing sport of sepak takraw... and the world's best at it, Thailand:

Malaysia's Mohamad Putra tries to block the ball from Thailand's Singha Somsakul (red) during the men's sepak takraw team finals at the Asian Games in Doha December 6, 2006.

REUTERS

Thailand's Pornchai Kaokaew (in red) strikes the ball as Malaysia's Mohamad Azlan tries to block during their men's sepaktakraw team final match at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 6, 2006.

REUTERS

Thailand's Pornchai Kaokaew (in red) blocks the ball from Malaysia's Mohamad Azlan during their men's sepaktakraw team final match at the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 6, 2006.

REUTERS (protecting that package, eh Pornchai?)

I hope they took and publish some shots of Suebsak's devastating serves...

On the women's side, Team Thailand took the Silver Medal (gold went to Vietnam).

Edited December 6, 2006 by sriracha john

[Kan Win]

3 gold medals ( and a World Record in Weight Lifting by a Female BTW)

7 Silvers

6 bronzers

Nice one, Thailand.

May the Medals keep on becoming to this Nation.

Yours truly,

Kan Win

[sriracha john]

Thais Teach Malaysians A Lesson In Sepak takraw

DOHA -- Thailand showed that Malaysia still need to learn a lesson or two in the sport of sepaktakraw after powering their way to the men's team gold with an easy 2-0 win at the Al-Saad Indoor Hall here Wednesday.

So overwhelming was the display of the Thais that they did not have to call upon their third regu, to clinch the gold, as they wrapped up the first two regus with consummate ease.

Having lost the inter-regu gold at the Manila SEA Games last December, the Thais seemed to have gone into a soul-searching mission and emerged with the right formula while the Malaysians may have been resting on their laurels, if their performance Wednesday was used as a gauge.

Malaysia's first regu comprising Mohd Normanizam Ahmad, Zulhafizazudin Rosslan and Mohd Futura Abd Ghani were simply no match to the all-round strength of the Thai trio - Singha Somsakul, Panomporn Aiemsaard, Somporn Jaisinghol - who won 21-15, 21-15.

Their "killer" Somsakul especially was in superb form with his well executed overhead kicks and stout defending.

Despite the presence of a strong Malaysian crowd on the stands, Malaysia's second regu - Mohd Zulkarnain Mohamed Arif, Sulaiman Salleh and Mohd Azlan Abdul Mubin failed to raise their game and lost 20-22, 12-21 in straight games.

Thailand's second regu, powered by Suebsak Phunsueb, a formidable "tekong" and supported by Suriyan Peachan and Pornchai Kaokaew, were simply in a class of their own.

Malaysian head coach Jamaluddin Hassan said his boys did not play their normal match Wednesday and made many mistakes.

"Maybe they had peaked during their semi-final match against Indonesia Tuesday," he said after the match here Wednesday.

When sepak takraw was first introduced at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, Malaysia took the team and inter-regu gold and again won the team gold in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.

However, the gold medals dried up since, as Thailand started their dominance in the sport with consecutive wins at the Bangkok (1998) and Busan (2002) Asian Games before completing their hat-trick here.

-- BERNAMA

[KireB]

I am truly sorry, but I'm not gonna take these Mickey Mouse Games serious!

If you win medals at the real Olympics, win the Champions League, Wordcup, Masters or a Grandslam tournament, only then you can talk about an achievement!

[Don Quixote]

I am truly sorry, but I'm not gonna take these Mickey Mouse Games serious!

If you win medals at the real Olympics, win the Champions League, Wordcup, Masters or a Grandslam tournament, only then you can talk about an achievement!

What a load of rubbish.

[sriracha john]

I am truly sorry

yes, you are.

[sriracha john]

The ladies have bounced back in the regu finals to win Gold!

Thailand wraps up two sepak takraw gold

DOHA : Sepak takraw powerhouse Thailand won the men's and women's regu gold medals on Sunday, steamrolling Malaysia and Vietnam respectively.

The Thai women faced a tough challenge from a rapidly improving Vietnam trio who rattled them by taking the first set 21-19.

But Areerat Takan, Nitinadda Kaewkamsai and Tidawan Daosakul soon settled down and won the second set 23-21 before wrapping it up 15-9 in the third.

"I am very proud because this is an important win. I respect the Vietnam team because they are very good. We expected them to be strong, and in future we also expect Japan and Korea to be very strong too," said Areerat.

They had earlier earned their place in the crunch final by ending the hopes of China, one of the strongest teams here, in two quick sets, 21-11, 21-10.

The Thai men emulated the women, coming through a tense match to overcome Malaysia 21-19, 22-20, with their superiority underlined by the fact that they went through the tournament without dropping a set.

The victories come as no surprise from a country that has won 10 of the 15 gold medals awarded since the sport was first introduced at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing.

The Thai men earlier beat Myanmar in the semi-finals. - AFP/

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Thailand's women's sepak takraw players kiss their gold medals after the medal presentation at the 15th Asian Games in Doha. From left are, Areerat Takan, Nitinadda Kaewkamsai, Tidawan Daosakul, Pinporn Klongbungkar and Phutsadi Suancharun.

REUTERS

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Thailand's men's sepak takraw team shout during the medal presentation at the Asian Games in Doha. From left: Somporn Jaisinghol, Pornchai Kaokaew, Singha Somsakul, Panomporn Aiemsa and Suebsak Phunsueb. Thailand beat Malaysia to take the gold medal in the final.

REUTERS

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Congratulations to all of them!

[sriracha john]

More Gold for Thailand:

Buoban wins women's javelin title

DOHA - Thailand's Buoban Pamang won the women's javelin title here at the Asian Games. The 22-year-old threw a best of 61.31 metres to take gold ahead of China's Ma Ning (57.53), while Yuki Ebihara of Japan took the bronze (56.88).

Agence France-Presse

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Thailand's Buoban Pamang kisses her gold medal during the award ceremony for the women's javelin throw finals at the 15th Asian Games in Doha.

REUTERS

Thailand's Buoban Pamang jokingly poses with her gold medal during the award ceremony for the women's javelin throw finals at the 15th Asian Games in Doha.

REUTERS

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Well done, Buoban!

Edited December 11, 2006 by sriracha john