The former world champion, competing in her eighth edition of the biennial event, defeated Supanida Katethong 21-19, 21-7 in what many believe may be her final appearance at the Games. For a player who has carried Thai badminton on her shoulders for more than a decade, it was a fitting addition to her résumé in her last SEA Games.
Her triumph capped a dramatic day for the Thai badminton contingent, reports the Bangkok Post.
Ruttanapak Oupthong and Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat produced one of the upsets of the tournament by defeating Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Supissara Paewsampran 22-20, 21-19 to win the mixed doubles gold.
The pair, buoyed by their semi-final victory over Malaysia’s world champions Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, maintained their fearless form to deny their higher-ranked compatriots.
Indonesia enjoyed success in the men’s singles, with Alwi Farhan overcoming Moh Zaki Ubaidillah 13-21, 21-8, 21-12, while Malaysia claimed the women’s doubles title with a 2-1 win over Indonesia.
However, Thailand’s march past the 100-gold milestone was overshadowed yesterday by a stunning defeat to arch-rivals Malaysia in the men’s sepak takraw team final - a result that abruptly ended the hosts’ 34-year stranglehold on the sport and sent a jolt through the nation’s SEA Games celebrations.
The loss, coming on a day when Thailand had hoped to revel in their growing dominance of the medal table, punctured what should have been a triumphant moment.
The hosts, who have set themselves the ambitious target of surpassing 200 gold medals, crossed the 100-gold threshold on the fifth day of competition. Their tally stood at 120 golds at press time, but the mood was undeniably tempered by the shock on the takraw court.
A capacity crowd at the 4,000-seat Nakhon Pathom Municipal Sports Centre watched in disbelief as Malaysia overturned Thailand’s early advantage to claim the men’s team title 2-1.
Thailand edged the opening regu 2-1, but the Malaysians responded with back-to-back 2-1 victories in the B and C regus, silencing the home supporters and ending a reign that had stretched back to 1991.
There was at least consolation earlier in the day when the Thai women’s team swept Vietnam 2-0 to secure the gold medal, maintaining their own proud tradition in the sport.
Golfers deliver sweep
Thailand’s golfers delivered one of the standout performances of the Games, sweeping all four gold medals on offer at Siam Country Club Rolling Hills in Pattaya.
Pongsapak Laopakdee produced a composed final-round 70 to finish on 267 and win the men’s individual title by an emphatic 11-shot margin over Vietnam’s Minh Nguyen Anh, with Parin Sarasmut taking bronze.
The men’s team gold followed soon after, Thailand’s four-round total of 831 leaving Indonesia (851) and Vietnam (857) trailing in their wake.
In the women’s individual event, Prim Prachnakorn staged a superb comeback, carding a final-round 66 to finish on 279, six shots clear of compatriot Kritchanya Kaopattanaskul. Pimpisa Rubrong finished third on 288 but was denied a podium place due to Games regulations preventing a single nation from sweeping all three medals.
The women’s team completed the clean sweep with a dominant performance, finishing on 558, well ahead of Singapore (593) and Indonesia (595).
A slice of baseball history
Thailand also celebrated a historic moment in baseball, with the national team claiming the inaugural SEA Games gold after defeating Indonesia 2-0 (9-8, 4-2) in the final.
The victory mirrored their win over the same opponents in the round-robin stage and marked a significant milestone for a sport making its debut at the Games. The squad - Setthawut Bucha, Naruephol Muangkasem, Teetat Suwannasang, Ramin Yalangkham, Ancheera Sirimaha, Sudarat Wiangkhamfa, Kanyawan Sila and Nannapas Wattaprom - delivered a composed performance to secure their place in Thai sporting history.
Cycling success.
Jutatip Maneephan claimed her third consecutive SEA Games gold in the women’s criterium in Nakhon Nayok, underlining her status as one of the region’s most consistent road cyclists.
The men’s team took silver in the time trial behind Indonesia, while on Saturday night Komet Sukpraset added another gold in BMX racing, with rising star Putthaphum Nakpaen taking silver to complete a Thai one-two.
Equestrian events in Chon Buri continued to showcase Thailand’s growing strength in the discipline. The team dressage quartet of Nynn Puttisombat, Chalermcharn Yotviriyapanit, Arinadtha Chavatanont and Pawarisa Thongpradup combined for 207.353 points to secure gold, edging Indonesia by a narrow margin. Malaysia finished third.
The Thais had already swept both individual and team golds in eventing on Saturday.
Korntawat Samran topped the individual standings with 24.7 points, followed by compatriot Sunsinee Thaicharoen on 31.4, while Indonesia’s Steven Menayang took bronze. In the team event, Thailand - represented by Somjai, Arinadtha, Sunsinee, Nathasha Mekarapiruk and Korntawat - finished on 88.6 points, comfortably ahead of Indonesia (118.6) and Myanmar (143.9).
Pawarisa also led the individual dressage preliminary round, with further stages scheduled for today and tomorrow.
Eyes on 17th volleyball title
In volleyball, Thailand’s women moved to within one win of a 17th SEA Games title after sweeping Indonesia 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-15) in the semi-finals at Huamark Indoor Stadium. They will face long-time rivals Vietnam in today’s final, after Vietnam dispatched the Philippines in straight sets. Indonesia and the Philippines will contest the bronze medal match.
The swimming pool produced more medals for the hosts. Kamonchanok Kwanmuang secured her second gold of the Games with victory in the women’s 400m individual medley, clocking 4:46.30 to finish ahead of Vietnam’s Thi My Tien Yo and Thailand’s Jinjutha Pholjamjumrus.
The 20-year-old had earlier won the 200m butterfly, Thailand’s first swimming gold of the Games.
Mia Millar added silver in the women’s 100m backstroke with a time of 1:02.52, following her gold in the 200m backstroke on Friday. Surasit Thongdeang claimed bronze in the men’s 100m butterfly, while Napatsawan Jaritkla finished third in the women’s equivalent.
Weightlifting brought further success as Surodchana Khambao won the women’s 53kg title with a total lift of 204kg, adding to Theerapong Silachai’s earlier gold in the men’s 60kg.
Komet Sukprasert, already a BMX time trial champion, added another gold in BMX racing, while Thailand’s snooker teams enjoyed a productive outing. The men defeated Laos 3-1 in the team final, and the women edged Indonesia 3-2 in the six-red event.
Wushu contributed another gold through the men’s duilian weapon final, where Thailand scored 9.763 points. In tennis, the men’s team settled for silver after a 2-1 defeat to Indonesia in Saturday’s final.
It was a day of soaring highs and unexpected lows for the hosts - a reminder that even in a campaign marked by dominance, the SEA Games can still produce moments of drama, heartbreak and history in equal measure.
Attention will shift today to the waters off Chon Buri, where Her Majesty the Queen begins her campaign in the sailing competition.
She will compete in the mixed keelboat SSL47 preliminary round at Ocean Marina Yacht Club, joining participants from Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Vietnam in the four-day event.
Her Majesty took part in a training session yesterday, while His Majesty the King is scheduled to present medals to all winners on Thursday.