Their victory earned the Kingdom's third gold medal following successes by the women's air-rifle prone team and weightlifter Pawina Thongsuk. They also became the first Thai male athletes to win gold medals in this Games.

But the women's team, who were two-time defending champions, were stunned by Vietnam, who defied all odds to win the final 2-1 (Team A won 13-21 21-14 15-11; Team B lost 12-21 15-21; Team C won 12-21 21-15 15-11) to win their country's first gold medal in Doha.

The Vietnamese have shown significant improvement in recent Games. They won the bronze at the 1998 event in Bangkok, picked up a silver in Busan and came back much stronger this time to take the gold.

Vietnam were considered Thailand's closest challengers for the women's event. They finished runners-up to the Thais at last year's World Championships in Bangkok and the SEA Games in Manila.

National head coach for the women's team Chucheep Kongmeechon was distraught after his team's stunning 1-2 loss. "It was a tense match. The winners had a determined mental approach. And the team which kept their concentration took the match. The Vietnamese displayed all the qualities of a champion side.

"My girls performed well at the beginning, but gradually, pressure took its toll on them. The striker in the team could not hold her nerve. It's my mistake, as well. I was late making changes in the line-up in each regu.

"We have to make amends in the women's regu and I hope that my girls can do it this time. Vietnam remain our strongest rivals in the regu event."

According to Chucheep, it's likely that Areerat Takan, Tidawan Daosakul and Phutsadi Suancharun will be the main players in the women's regu event.

Team manager Thawat Kumutphongphanich said: "Unfortunately, we lost the first regu event though we started with our strongest line-up. Vietnam played very well. I think our players in the third regu were too nervous. That's why we lost the match." 

Preechachan     Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

Doha