• 
• 

Published on December 16, 2007

Thailand salvaged their pride at  His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary Stadium courts as home teams scooped all three remaining gold to close the SEA Games tennis competition in style.

The Thais recovered fast, a day after losing the women's and men's singles gold medals to Indonesia and Philippines respectively, reeling off victories in the men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles, to end up with five gold. Doubles specialists Sanchai Ratiwatana and Napaporn Tongsalee grabbed three gold medals each, making them the most successful players at these Games.

With the men's team gold under his belt, Sanchai, along with brother Sonchat came from behind to beat Filipinos Cecil Mamitt and Frederick Taino 6-2 6-4 in the men's doubles. Sanchai later teamed up with Napaporn to win the nail-biting mixed doubles over Mamitt and Denise Dy 6-4 7-6 (7/3).

Napaporn and Tamarine Tanasugarn, who also bagged the team gold, won the doubles, beating Sandy Gumulya and Romana Tedjakusuma of Indonesia 6-2 6-3.

"People expected a lot from me and after I lost the mixed doubles, I had to work on my concentration to play well in the women's doubles. It was a big relief,'' said Tamarine who has three Games gold medals in her collection: the 1995 singles, 2007 team and doubles.

"It's time to step aside and allow younger players to join the team and gain experience,'' said Tammy whose next tournament is the Australian Open.

For 28-year-old Napaporn, winning three Games gold was an ideal way to end her career after picking up the racquet at 10. "I will be remembered for a long time for ending my tennis career with three Games gold medals. I'm going to hang up the racquet after the national championships next week,'' Napaporn said.

By successfully defending their doubles gold, in a repeat of the 2005 finals, Sonchat and Sanchai became the first Thai pair to win three straight Games men's doubles.

"I'm glad to defend the title and have won three times in a row,'' Sonchat said. He and Sanchai, whose girl friend Chonnapas Premwaew, a gold medallist in taekwondo, was rooting for the team yesterday, will receive Bt1.05 million as incentive from the government.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation