Fresh from winning the men's 100m the previous day, SEA Games 200m champion Sitthichai relegated rival Watchara Sorndee into second place with a superb run in the 200m yesterday.

His impressive time of 20.75 seconds shattered the National Games record of 21.00 set in Phuket by Sompop Malakul na Ayutthaya 24 fours years ago.

Reigning women's 200m champion Juthamas also set a National Games record yesterday, clocking 23.64secs to better the 14-year-old mark of 23.77secs while also defeating rival Orranut Klomdee from Suphan Buri.

Boonthung Srisang of Nakhon Ratchasima won the men's 5000m, while Kanchanaburi's Wansawang Sawasdee was in record-smashing form with a throw of 51.19m in the men's discus.

Lampang's Narongdech Chanjai finished first in the men's 110m hurdles, with Bangkokian Wallapa Phansungnoen taking the women's 100m hurdles.

Record-breaking Sompong Soambankruay added another gold to Bangkok's tally in the men's pole vault, while Nungruethai Chaipetch and Thitima Muangchan won the women's high jump and triple jump for Nongkhai and Amnart Charoen respectively.

Bangkok swimmers, led by Suriya Suksuphak, ruled the pool on the opening day of the swimming competition yesterday and won four of the seven gold medals contested.

Suriya won two gold in the men's 100m butterfly and 50m backstroke, while Nutthanun Chankrajang won the team's third gold in the women's 400m individual medley. Bangkok's fourth gold came in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay in a Games record of 7:57.98.

Four gold medals were at stake yesterday in taekwondo. Angthong, Bangkok, Trang and Rayong shared one gold apiece in the women's middleweight, women's bantamweight, men's bantamweight and men's middleweight classes respectively.

A total of 47 gold medals are on offer today.

Preechachan  Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

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