The opening day of the preliminary series unfolded yesterday (Dec 15) at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Chonburi, where steady winds and calm seas provided ideal conditions for the debut of the high-performance 47-foot keelboats in the regional competition.
The Thai crew, with Her Majesty serving as strategist, delivered a commanding performance, reports the Bangkok Post.
Thailand secured victories in the first two races before finishing third in the third, placing them at the top of the overall standings with five points.
Malaysia trailed in second on seven, with the Myanmar team hot on their heels on eight points.
With five further races scheduled over the next three days, the contest remains finely poised, though Thailand’s early consistency has set a formidable benchmark.
The team with the lowest accumulated points will be crowned champions on Thursday.
The SSL47 class, making its first appearance at the SEA Games, features mixed-gender crews of eight to ten sailors, with a combined weight limit of 730kg.
The Queen’s involvement has drawn considerable public interest in the event.
Four golds at Sattahip
The host country’s success on the water in the Games extended beyond the keelboat arena.
On Sunday, the national sailing contingent dominated the Sattahip coastline, collecting four gold medals across multiple classes.
Darwin Hsu and Prin Subying delivered a clean sweep in the boys’ and girls’ ILCA4 events, each displaying maturity and precision beyond their years.
In the women’s optimist class, Pailin Jaroenpon claimed gold before partnering with Navee Thamsoontorn to secure another top podium finish in the mixed 470 category.
Their victories reinforced Thailand’s long-standing reputation as a regional powerhouse in youth and dinghy sailing.
Peerapol pedals to victory
Away from the water, Thailand’s cyclists continued to impress. Peerapol Chaochiangkwang produced a commanding ride to win the men’s 41km individual time trial at Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Nayok yesterday, delighting Thai supporters who had gathered along the hilly route.
Peerapol completed the course in 1:07.28 hours, securing Thailand’s sixth cycling gold of the Games. Laotian rider Ariya Phounsavath claimed silver in 1:07.53, while Indonesia’s Aiman Cahyadi took bronze with a time of 1:08.18.
The victory marked the second gold for Thailand’s road cycling squad following Jutatip Maneephan’s triumph in the criterium on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Indonesia’s Delia Ayustina Priatna won the women’s time trial in 59:18 minutes. Thailand’s Phetdarin Somrat finished second in 1:02.32, with compatriot Chaniporn Batriya taking bronze in 1:02.40.
A sweep for petanque stars
Thailand’s petanque teams delivered a clean sweep at Alongkorn Rajabhat University in Pathum Thani, securing both the men’s and women’s triples gold medals.
The men’s quartet - Phongsakron Ainpu, Charoenwit Ketsattanaban, Panukarn Roeksanit and Anuphon Phathan - overpowered Indonesia 13-7 in a confident display marked by precision shooting and steady composure under pressure.
The women’s team matched that achievement with a 13-7 victory over Vietnam, ensuring Thailand maintained its dominance in a sport where it has traditionally excelled.
There was further success on the baize, where Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan edged world No.1 Nutcharut Wongharuthai 3-2 in an all-Thai final to claim the women’s 6-red snooker title. The closely fought contest showcased the depth of Thailand’s cue-sports talent.
Wakeboarders deliver again
In extreme sports, Thailand added another gold in the open cable wakeboard team event.
The squad - Sarawut Niemkhun, Peeranat Faktongyu, Benjamin Phechyuenyong, Lalada Liew, Bhraebhim Pipatsawaddhi and Paktanun Krisuwansarn - amassed 90 points, with Bhraebhim contributing the highest individual score of 74.33.
For both Bhraebhim and Lalada, the victory marked their second gold of the Games, having already triumphed in the wakeboard team event last Thursday.
The Thailand Extreme Sports Association has now collected four gold medals across wakeboard, wakesurf, cable wakeboard and the women’s skateboard street competition.
Tennis players advance
Thailand’s tennis players also enjoyed a productive day at the National Tennis Development Centre in Nonthaburi.
Maximus Parapol Jones and Kasidit Samrej progressed to the men’s singles semi-finals, while Mananchaya Sawangkaew and Thasasporn Naklao reached the last four in the women’s draw.
Top seed Maximus overcame Singapore’s Yew Chan 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to set up a semi-final meeting with Malaysia’s Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong. Kasidit defeated Malaysia’s Darrshan Suresh Kumar 6-3, 7-5 and will face Indonesia’s Muhammad Rifqi Fitriadi.
In the women’s competition, Mananchaya dispatched Singapore’s Eva Marie Desvignes 6-2, 6-1 and will meet Indonesia’s Janice Tjen next.
Thasasporn, who caused an early upset by eliminating defending champion Priska Madelyn Nugroho, beat Singapore’s Sue Yan Tan 6-1, 6-3 to earn a semi-final clash with top seed Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.
Thailand also advanced in mixed doubles, with the pairs Pruchya Isaro/Peangtarn Plipuech and Patcharin Cheapchandej/Pawit Sornlaksup both reaching the semi-finals.
Bunjong in boxing final
In the boxing ring, Bunjong Sinsiri secured a place in the men’s 69kg final after a decisive 5-0 victory over the Philippines’ Mark Ashley Fajardo.
He will face Singapore’s Jun Jie Velvan Tan in the gold-medal bout.
Bunjong, who reached the quarter-finals of the 63.5kg division at last year’s Paris Olympics, is widely regarded as one of Thailand’s strongest medal prospects in the ring.
Rugby sweep
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Thailand swept to victory in both the men’s and women’s rugby titles to end an 18-year wait for gold in the men’s event.
The double triumph sparked emotional scenes at Dhupatemiya Stadium.
The Thai women’s team, champions in the past four editions, were untouchable once again.
They overpowered Malaysia 37-0 to secure a fifth straight crown and, remarkably, completed the entire tournament without conceding a single point - a first in SEA Games rugby history.
The men’s final was a far more tense affair.
Determined to reclaim the title on home soil, Thailand faced Singapore, whom they had beaten 22-0 in the group stage.
A cagey first half finally broke open when Peerapol Chookuan crossed for a late try to give the hosts a 5-0 lead.
Noppasit Kladkrayang extended the advantage to 10-0 after the break, but Singapore mounted a late surge and pulled one try back in the closing minutes.
Thailand held firm to secure a 10-5 victory - their first men’s rugby gold since the 2007 Games in Nakhon Ratchasima.
Ping pong snatch a thriller
Thailand’s women’s table tennis team delivered one of the most gripping victories of the Games, edging long-time rivals Singapore 3-2 to secure a third consecutive team gold at Central Westgate Hall in Bangkok.
World No.73 Orawan Paranang set the tone with a 3-0 win over Ser Lin Qian, surviving a tight opening game before asserting control. Singapore responded through world No.37 Zeng Jian, who outlasted Suthasini Sawettabut in a five-game battle to level the tie.
Tan Zhaoyun then put Singapore ahead with a 3-1 win over Tamolwan Khetkhuan, using her defensive craft to frustrate the Thai player. But Orawan returned to the table and produced a superb comeback, overturning a 2-1 deficit to beat Zeng Jian 3-2 and pull Thailand back into contention.
The decisive fifth match saw Suthasini redeem her earlier defeat, overpowering Ser Lin Qian 11-5 in the final game to seal a 3-2 victory and extend Thailand’s dominance in the event.
Climbing duo strike gold
Thailand wrapped up their sport climbing campaign with two bouldering golds at the Sports Authority of Thailand Climbing centre.
Rising star Atsawin Uarareejit, 18, topped three of four routes to win the men’s final with 84.5 points, well ahead of compatriot Atch Intharachupong, who took silver. Singapore’s Wen Bin Luke Goh claimed bronze.
In the women’s final, Natcha Supaworaset delivered a composed performance to secure Thailand’s second gold of the day, capping a strong overall showing for the national squad.
The hosts added another medal in the pool as the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team, anchored by Kamonchanok Kwanmuang, clocked 8:10.10 to take gold. The Philippines finished second, with Vietnam securing bronze.