Du Xian Hui of Singapore wins the women's Discus Throw in the SEA Games in Manila (© Peh Siong San)
The host country continued to show good form on the third day of the track and field competition at the 2005 South East Asian (SEA) Games at the Riza Memorial Track & Field Stadium, today (Nov 29). But the traditional regional powerhouse of the sport, Thailand, which had been somewhat subdued so far, made a comeback of sorts with some strong victories of their own.
Relay win tops Thai counter attack
Leading the way for the Thais was Wassana Winatho who clinched the women’s 400m Hurdles title easily in a time of 57.20. Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Nu (1:00.37) was second while Philippines Mary Grace Milgar came in third (1:01.37). Not to be outdone, Chatchawal Polyeng won the men’s Shot Put gold with his distance of 17.06m. Team mate Sarayudh Pinitit (16.66m) took the silver, while Singapore’s Discus Throw specialist James Wong (12.66m) won the bronze.
The Thais, as expected, also stamped their superiority in the men’s 4x100m Relay. They clocked 39.74, way ahead of the Philippines (40.55) and Singapore (40.59). For Wachara Sondee, who took the men’s 100m title yesterday, the relay win was doubly sweet. “For Thailand, the relays are always very important. We take pride in the fact that we work as a team and do not just depend on individual speed,” he said.
Home wins continue
For the Filipino fans, the meet continued to be of great interest because their athletes had been winning. The pattern continued, with Jimar Aing taking the men’s 400m gold in 47.03. The more established Ernie Candelrio settled for the silver in 47.06, while Malayisa’s Mohd Zafril Mohd Zuslaini won the bronze in 47.25 secs.
Local fans also cheered for Arniel Ferrera as he clinched the Hammer Throw title with a throw of 60.47m. Teammate Jerro Perater (53.44m) won the silver while Thailand’s Yong Jaros Kanjus (52.74m) collected the bronze. In all, it has been a good meet for the Philippines so far, starting with the one-two by long jumpers Marestella Torres and Lerma Elmira Gabito on the opening day, followed by success for athletes such as Mercedita Manipol in the women’s 10,000m in and Danilo Fresnido in the men’s Javelin Throw.
Du Xian Hui's gold emphasises Singapore's good fortune
For tiny Singapore, these Games have also turned out to be fairly successful thus far. Today, Du Xian Hui took the gold medal in the women’s Discus Throw with her distance of 49.48m to edge out her closest rival, Thailand's Juthaporn Krasaeyan (48.93). Another Singaporean Zhang Gui Rong achieved a throw of 48.62m to secure the bronze. For Du, the win meant a lot. She was once touted as the new face of throwing in Asia, showing vast potential in the Shot Put when she recorded an impressive 18.67m way back in 2002. Since then, she has been struggling to find her old form and has played second fiddle to the fast improving Zhang who won the SEA Games gold in the Shot Put just yesterday.
Malaysia and Vietnam continued to impress with more wins. Riding on the earlier success of athletes like Moh Siew Wei in the women’s 100m hurdles and Mohd Robani Hassan in the men’s 110m hurdles, Malaysia continued to look threatening in the overall race for supremacy. Yuan Yu Fang clinched the gold in the women’s 20km Race Walk, in a time of 1:42.52, with Indonesia’s Darwati (1:52.13.4) second, while Thailand’s Yahaphon Peamsakun (1:53.52.6) finished third. As for Vietnam, its women in particular look impressive, with wins by athletes such as Do Thi Bong in the 800m (2:03.65) and Vu Thi Huong in the 100m (11.61).
Chua Chong Jin and Kevin Goh for the IAAF
