Thailand overtakes Myanmar's lead

On a day when Thailand salvaged a 1-1 draw with the host side in the eye-catching men's soccer competition, the Thailand athletes delegation fared well to jump to the pole position in the medal tally with an aggregate 93 medals including 33 gold, relegating hosts Myanmar (31 gold, 29 silver, 28 bronze) to the second place.
Indonesia are trailing in a close third spot with 30 gold, while Vietnam (29 gold) are in fourth position.
 
A total of nine Thai boxers including three women made it to the Saturday's finals.
In the women's division, flyweight Sopida Satumrun handed Thailand the first gold in boxing after beating Vietnamese Nguyen Thi Yen 2-1.
Team-mate Bantamweight Peamwiai Laopeam followed suits by thrashing Indonesian Ester Kalayuk 3-0 to capture gold.
However, it was an upset tale in the lightweight event when Sudaporn Seesondee failed in an effort of her title defence after losing 1-2 to Vietnamese Lu Thi Duyen.
The men's division saw Thai boxers pit their expertise in all six finals. Flyweight Chatchai Butdee outpointed Myanmar's Mg Nge 3-0 to win the Thailand's third gold in the combat sport, while bantamweight Donchai Thathi struggled to hit form as he went down to Mario Fernandez 0-3. The off-form Donchai picked up silver, with the Filipino winning gold.
Lightweight Sailom Ardee snatched the fourth gold for the Kingdom following a narrow 2-1 win over Filipino Junel Cantancio, with light welterweight Wuttichai Masuk crushing Dennis Galvan of the Philippines 3-0.
The remaining two gold medals came from welterweight Apichet Saensit and light heavyweight Anawat Kongkratok.
Meanwhile, the SEA Games badminton competition saw four Thai players compete in three finals - men's and women's singles and mixed doubles.
In the men's singles event, world No.12 Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, bronze medallist in this year's All-England, French Open and Denmark Open, made Thailand proud on Saturday when the 23-year-old shuttler narrowly beat world No.23 and Indonesia Open silver medallist Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka from Indonesia in a hotly-contested battle 22-20 21-17.
The Tanongsak's scintillating win ended Thailand's men's singles gold-medal drought in the SEA Games. Bandid Jaiyen was the last Thai who won the gold in the 1975 edition.
Nevertheless, world No.18 and Dutch Open winner Busanan Ongbumrungpan had a disappointing contest in the women's singles showdown when she was stunned 21-9 13-21 13-21 by Indonesian Bellaetrix Manuputty.
Thailand had another upset performance in the mixed doubles clash when Maneepong Jongjit and Sapsiree Taerattanachai were beaten 18-21 19-21 by Indonesians Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto.
Only five gold medals were at stake in the badminton competition, with Indonesia winning a majority three gold medals (women's singles, men's doubles and mixed doubles). Thailand and Malaysia shared one gold apiece in the respective men's singles and women's doubles events.
In the body-building competition, muscular Jiraphan Pongkam proved that the consecutive two-time world championships he has achieved were no fluke. He satisfied the judges with his awesome muscles and amazing upper body to claim gold medal in the men's 55kg event.
Meanwhile, mountain biker Vipavee Deekaballes took the women's 1.5km downhill gold after crossing the finish line first in 2.37.191 minutes. Indonesian Risa Suseanty and another Thai, Sattayanun Abdulkaree, secured second and third places in 2.38.707 and 2.42.635 minutes respectively.
Suebsakun Sukchanya had to be content with bronze medal in the men's event after clocking 2.24.125 minutes. Indonesian bikers made it a one-two finish.
Karate-do exponent Sutthichai Takiew also brought fame to the nation on Saturday when he clinched gold in the 84kg event. Thailand have never won the SEA Games gold in the karate-do contest since the 2007 edition.
In the equestrian competition, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, riding Htate Kwet, scored 53.810 points to finish 10th place in the individual dressage event. Praveen Natr Mathavan from Malaysia on Sein Win Mal captured gold with an aggregate 67.405 points.
    
               Medal Tally
                     G   S    B
Thailand        33  30   30
Myanmar      31  29   28
Indonesia      30  40   34
Vietnam        29  23   33
Malaysia       18  12   31
Singapore     12  10   19
Philippines      7  11   15
Cambodia       4   6   11
Laos               2   5   18
Brunei            1   1    3
Timor-Leste    -   -    1