Vietnam drew level with Thailand in the gold medal tally at the Southeast Asian Games yesterday, ensuring the race for the top of the standings will go down to the wire.
Vietnam picked up further golds in athletics, shooting, archery, shuttlecock, petanque and the martial arts of judo and wushu to take its tally to 61, level with Thailand, by late yesterday. Thailand topped the standings by virtue of more silver medals: 68 to 55.
Today is the last major day of competition, with only a handful of golds available on the closing day tomorrow.
However, Vietnam would have taken the lead in the standings had it not lost two women’s boxing finals to Thai opponents.
In the bantamweight division, Thassamalee Thongjan beat Doan Thi Lien, while featherweight, Peamwilai Laopeam defeated Ngo Thi Chung.
Thailand beat Laos in yesterday’s women’s volleyball final, taking further golds in athletics, archery, judo, wrestling, wushu and petanque.
Indonesia dominated the track events. Agus Prayogo burst clear midway through the race to win the men’s 10,000m in 29 minutes, 51.40 seconds; Dedeh Erawati defended her title in the women’s 100m hurdles in 13.34 seconds; and Suryo Agung Wibowo claimed the 200m.
Thailand took two track golds, and Singapore, Philippines and Vietnam one apiece.
Jamras Rittidet, 25, of Thailand broke the men’s 110m hurdle record of 13.91 with a 13.89 time, saying his next goal was victory at the Asian Games.
There was a record in the women’s long jump when defending champion Marstella Torres of the Philippines leapt 6.68m. The record of 6.52m had stood since 1989.
In the men’s pole vault Thailand’s Kreeta Sintawacheewa soared to 5.21m to break the record of 5.10m.
Vietnam’s Vu Thi Huong completed the 100m and 200m double, with her 200m time of 23.31 being just 0.01 off the games record.
Singapore’s Wong Tuck Jim, 40, captured gold in the men’s discus with a throw of 53.60m.
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