Buaban does what she knows best, breaking her record
[ATHLETICS] Reigning women's javelin champion Buaban Phamang yesterday set the Thammasat Rangsit Main Stadium alight with a record-shattering performance on the penultimate day of the Thailand Open King's Cup Track and Field Championships yesterday.
The Thai bettered her own SEA Games mark of 55.06m, which was set in Manila last year. Buaban burst into prominence on her SEA Games debut in Kuala Lumpur five years ago when she broke the 14-year-old SEA Games record of 51.1m, established by Indonesian Wijaya Tati Ratnaningsih in Jakarta in 1987. The 23-year-old from Chiang Rai was in devastating form yesterday, throwing her personal best of 56.68m to capture the gold medal. China Lining Team's Geng Aihua also smashed the existing record with a 55.16m throw, while Taiwanese Chen Yu-hsin took the bronze with 53.88m. "It's really a dream come true. I never thought I would win. I took a long holiday during the festival season, was unfit and came into this event with a short training programme," said Buaban, who bettered the SEA Games record five times in five years. "My next target is to win a medal in the Asian Games in Doha," she added. Meanwhile sprinter Sitthichai Suwornpratheep retained his 200m crown. The SEA Games champion clocked 21.25 seconds, with Ekkachai Chanthana and Seksan Wongsala claiming the silver and bronze medals after timing 21.58 and 21.73 seconds respectively. "I'm not fit, and it showed on my timings. I am planning to call it a day after the Asian Games in Doha. I hope to win a medal there," Sitthichai said. In the women's 200m event, Juthamas Thaworncharoen, who was second last year and third in the SEA Games, regained her form to win the gold with a time of 24.4 seconds. China Lining Team's Xiu Fenhou and Thai Yuangchan Phanthakan picked up silver and bronze in 25.04 and 25.16 seconds. Thai Sunisa Khao-iad rewrote the women's pole-vault record yesterday with a 3.5m jump for gold. Pasuta Wongwiang also broke the record of 3.4m to pick up a silver, while Pawina Jumpathong finished third with 2.8m. Ali Zenkawi and Mohhammad Aljawhar made it a Kuwaiti one-two in the men's hammer, with the former throwing 68.55m and the latter 61.99m. Taiwanese Cheng Yu-ta took the bronze with 61.19m. They broke the previous record of 47.92m established by Thailand's Vichai Homtuanlom four years ago. Ahmad Gholoum is no stranger to record books. The Kuwaiti hurled 18.44m for a new mark in the men's shot put, while China Lining Team's Guo Yanxing and Taiwanese Chang Ming-huang finished second and third with 17.96m and 17.60m respectively. Earlier in the morning, Thanaporn Piamsakul successfully defended her crown in the 10km walk with a time of 56 minutes, 21.93 seconds. Yakawin Chaimuang picked up the silver, clocking one hour, one minute, 07.95 seconds, while Natlada Thongsummanda, who came 51.68 seconds behind Yakawin, had to be content with the bronze. Preechachan Wiriyanupappong The Nation Pathum Thani
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