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Published on December 11, 2007

Record-shattering attempts by athletes and the determination in the fencing team yesterday helped hosts Thailand widen the gap to 79 gold medals for an unbeaten lead in the 24th SEA Games.

In front of a home crowd of more than 7,000 in the main stadium, Thai athletes made quite an impact yesterday. Sangwan Jaksunin, Supavadee Khawpueak and Orranut Klomdee were the awesome foursome who stormed home first in the women's 4x100m relay. They etched a new Games record of 44.00 seconds and stretched their win to 13 times in a row.

The men's quartet of Wachara Sondee, Siriroj Darasuriyong, Sompote Suwannarangsri and Sittichai Suwonprateep also followed suit with their record-smashing 38.95 seconds for a 11th consecutive victory SEA Games history.

 Sompong Saombankuay also pole-vaulted to gold and into the record books, relegating team-mate and consecutive two-time champion Amnat Kunpradit to second place. Sompong set a new standard of 5.10m.

The host side also claimed two more golds from Boonthung Srisang in the 10,000m Wansawang Sawasdee in the men's discus throw. As expected, Thailand ruled the roost with five gold out of nine at stake yesterday.

With only a day remaining in the track and field contest in the 24th SEA Games, Thai athletes have already taken 13 gold medals, the target aimed for by the Athletic Association of Thailand.

A total of 12 gold medals are at stake today in the athletics competition and Thai athletes stand a good chance of winning several golds including the men's and women's 200m, heptathlon, women's shot put and women's triple jump. Local fencers did not let their supporters down yesterday to win two gold medals from the men's foil team and the women's epee team. Vietnam took the remaining gold in the women's saber team event.

Among other winners, mermaid Natthanan Jankrajang made a big splash to bag her third gold in the women's 200m freestyle.

In weighlifting, Khanittha Petanang handed the Kingdom the lone gold from the women's 69kg category. Vietnam snatched the men's 69kg event, with Indonesia bagging the men's 77kg class.

 Vietnam took a majority of four gold medals in the wushu competition, while  Khwanyuen Chanthra managed one gold for the hosts in the men's under-52kg category.

 Singapore made a clean sweep of both gold medals up for grabs in the men's and women's singles table tennis competition, while Vietnam dominated the artistic gymnastics with five gold, leaving the host country only two gold. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia shared one gold apiece.

Singapore and Malaysia also shared honours in the bowling competition, with the former taking the men's trios title and the latter the women's crown. Malaysian jockeys performed superbly in the jumping team to clinch the lone gold on offer in equestrian yesterday.

Preechachan Wiriyanupappong

 The Nation

Nakhon Ratchasima