Thailand's challenge in badminton ended yesterday, with the mixed doubles pair of Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkham, the second seeds, going down 11-21 19-21 to third seeds Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen in the semi-finals and settling for a bronze.

In Busan, South Korea, Saralee and partner Khunakorn Sutthisodhi won a silver in the mixed doubles event. The latest result was, therefore, a big let-down.

Thai pistol ace Jakkrit Panichpatikum claimed his second medal, firing an aggregate 586 points to pick up a bronze in the men's 25m centre-fire pistol competition yesterday. On Thursday, Jakkrit won his first bronze in the men's 25m standard pistol team. Team-mates Opas Ruengpanyawut and Prakarn Karndee scored 567 and 561 points to finish 30th and 38th respectively.

Indian Jaspal Rana was in superb form to equal the world record of 590 points established in 1989 by Russian Afanasijs Kuzmins and the Asian standard set by Korean Park Byung Taek four years ago in Finland. Chinese Liu Guohui took the silver after firing 587 points.

"It's quite unfortunate that I could not win the gold medal. I missed several shots in the second series of shooting," said Jakkrit, who claimed a silver medal at the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, and two gold medals at the last year's SEA Games in Manila.

Pongpol Adireksan, president of National Shooting Sports of Thailand, said that the Thai shooters' four medals including a gold in Doha were something unexpected.

"I will talk to Tourism and Sport Minister Suvit Yodmani upon my return to Thailand. I will ask him to help these athletes in some way," he said.

In sepak takraw, Thailand's men's team registered 2-0 wins over Vietnam and Indonesia in the regu event, while the women's team tamed the Philippines 2-0 and were to face Burma later yesterday.

Two Thai body builders, Somsri Turinthaisong and Somkhit Sumethowetchakun, failed to make the cut for the evening final after finishing seventh and eighth in the men's under-65kg and under-60kg categories respectively. Only top five finishers from each category in the pre-judging round will make it to the final round.

In equestrian, Promton Kingwan, riding Mister Moss, finished a disappointing 13th in the individual jumping event after scoring 76.20 penalty points. Team-mate Weeraphat Pitakanonda, on Kelecyn Emperor, came 19th with 92.50 points.

Today, Thai fans will have something to cheer about as their athletes will be out in full force to prove their supremacy in many events. All eyes will be on two-time world body-building champion Sitthi Charoenrith in the men's under-80kg event.

The national men's soccer team will take on Qatar in the quarterfinal, while welterweight Angkhan Chomphuphuang will bid for a place in the quarterfinals of the boxing competition. Local foil ace Nonthapat Panchan will be out to make his mark in the individual event, while the men's and women's 100m relay teams will try to light up the athletics event. 

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

The Nation