The hosts lifted their tally to 35 golds, 19 silvers and 15 bronzes at time of press time on Day Two of the Games, reports the Bangkok Post.
Puripol clocked a sensational 9.94secs in the semi-finals before producing another electric run to win the final in 9.99secs. The 19-year-old, nicknamed “Angel Bew”, holds the national records in both the 100m and 200m and returned to the SEA Games stage after skipping the 2023 edition.
Kieran Tuntivate added further momentum to Thailand’s track-and-field charge by defending his men’s 1,500m title, winning in 3:47.50 at Supachalasai Stadium. The Thai-American Harvard graduate repeated his triumph from the 2023 Games in Cambodia.
Kittipong Boonmawan also retained his men’s hammer throw crown with a best effort of 63.11 metres. Malaysians Sadat Ajisan and Jackie Wong claimed silver and bronze with throws of 60.15m and 59.81m respectively.
A splash in Rayong
Four more gold medals were won at the Royal Thai Navy Rowing and Canoeing Training Center in Rayong, where Thai canoeists once again ruled the roost.
Yutthakan Chaidet set the tone by defeating compatriot Phuttraksa Chonlasit in the men’s canoe single slalom.
This was followed by the second Thai gold–silver finish of the day as Jaruwan Niamthong beat Rungthip Kumrat by a massive margin of over 10 seconds in the women’s kayak single slalom.
The men’s kayak double 200m and men’s canoe double 200m races also ended in favour of the host nation’s athletes.
Taekwondo on a tear
Building on teen star Watcharakul “Na No” Limjittrakorn’s spectacular freestyle triumph on Tuesday, the Thai taekwondo squad went on to claim three more gold medals yesterday.
Chareewan Piyachutrutai was in devastating form as she dominated Myanmar’s Kay Thwe Mon Lin in the women’s over 62kg (not exceeding 67kg) division at Fashion Island shopping mall.
Cho Chaichon battled hard against Malaysia’s Syafiq Zuber in the men’s over 80kg (not exceeding 87kg) title showdown before sealing a 2-1 victory.
Patcharakan Poolkerd then overpowered the Philippines’ Clarence Sarza in the women’s under 46kg final, winning the gold medal bout impressively by a 2-0 margin.
First golden moment
Tikumporn Surintornta secured the first gold medal for the Thai gymnastics team after winning the men’s floor exercise yesterday.
Tikumporn delivered an outstanding routine to score 14.000 points at Gymnasium 5, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus.
It was his first gold in his fifth SEA Games appearance.
It was also Thailand’s first SEA Games gold in the men’s individual apparatus in 10 years. Ratchawat Kaewpanya was the last Thai man to win an apparatus title, taking pommel horse gold in 2015.
Zulfa Luqman of Malaysia won silver with 12.833 points, while Justine Ace De Leon of the Philippines claimed bronze with 12.500.
Takraw brilliance
Thailand’s women’s hoop takraw team struck gold in record-breaking fashion on Wednesday.
The team - Pimpika Moongsupeng, Chawisa Raksachat, Sujittra Nawasimma, Warintorn Setraksa, Ketmanee Potjanit and Arriya Namsomboon - delivered a highly coordinated performance, winning the crown with a record-setting 1,000 points, a new world record.
No team had previously reached the 1,000-point mark since the introduction of hoop takraw, making the Thai women the first to achieve the historic milestone.
Over 30 minutes, the team averaged three clean hoop shots per minute.
Coach Kobkul Chinchaiyaphum’s quick and precise hoop adjustments were also instrumental to their success.
More titles
The Kingdom’s women’s snooker team also tasted success yesterday.
World No.1 “Mink Saraburi” Nutcharut Wongharuthai, “Ploy Khon Kaen” Ploychompoo Laokiatphong and “Mind Sakol” Panchaya Channoi delivered an impressive performance to defeat Indonesia 3–0 in the title match.
Thai mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters also claimed a slice of history, bagging two gold medals yesterday.
Kanjutha Phattaraboonsorn defeated Indonesia’s Vallensia Fahira Hotmauli in the women’s modern 54kg final.
Norachart Sutharang won gold in the men’s traditional 56kg event, beating Indonesia’s Alifan Bagus in the final.
MMA is being contested as a demonstration sport at the 2025 SEA Games.
Meanwhile, the Thai baseball team were set to face the Philippines in the gold medal match today at noon at Queen Sirikit 60th Anniversary Stadium in Pathum Thani.
The Thais beat Malaysia 17-3 to complete the round-robin with a 5-1 record yesterday, while the Philippines crushed Laos 12-0.
In volleyball, the Thai women’s team continued their march towards 17th regional title after beating the Philippines 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-16) at Huamark Indoor Stadium yesterday.
The second victory in a three-team Pool A assured the defending champions of a place in the semi-finals.