Thai swimming team reigns in the pool

By Sylvia Gratia Miranda

JAKARTA (JP): Thailand swam away with four gold medals on the opening day of the swimming competition at the Senayan Swimming Stadium.

First places came in the 200 meters women backstroke, 400 meters men's individual medley, and 4x200 meters men's and women's freestyle relays.

Chonlathorn Vorathamrong opened her team's campaign with 2:20.22 in the women's backstroke, followed by Silvy Triana of Indonesia in 2:21.64.

Ratapong Sirisanont won the 400 meters individual medley in 4:29.87, failing to better his Asian Games' record of 4:20.03.

Teammate Pathunyu Yimsomruay took the silver (4:30.89) and Indonesian hope Albert C. Sutanto third in 4:32.37 secs.

In the 4x200 meters men's freestyle relay, Thailand (7:44.81) was too strong for Malaysia (7:48.11) and Indonesia (7:48.97).

The real battle was for second place. Malaysia, in third until the last lap, was carried to the silver by Azlan Wan, who sprinted away from Indonesian anchor Christian Johannes.

In the women's relay, Thailand pipped Indonesia at the post in 8:29.89. The host squad finished back in 8:32.86 and Singapore was third in 8:53.19.

Singapore' star Joscelin Yeo stole some of the attention by grabbing two gold medals and one bronze. She took her first gold in the 100 meters freestyle (0:57.89). Leading right from the start, Yeo was ahead by a stroke over Chaterine Surya of Indonesia at the 50-meter turn.

Despite her rigorous training and all-out performance, the Indonesian finished a full second behind in 0:58.91. Thailand's Ravee Intporn-Udom was third (0:59.14).

Yeo's second gold was secured in the 200 meters individual medley (2:19.23), followed by Thai Ravee (2:19.70) and fellow Singaporean Yu Fen May Ooi (2:22.34).

Indonesians Rita Mariani and Elsa Manora Nasution were in fourth and fifth places.

Raymond Papa from the Philippines clocked 2:00.96 in the men's 200 meters backstroke, bettering his 2:03.79 from the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai.

Behind him were Malaysia's Lim Keng Liat (2:02.89) and Thailand's Dulyarit Phuangthong (2:05.54).

It was an early birthday present for Papa, who turns 21 tomorrow.

"I never expected to take all the gold medals, but I wanted to break my records," he said.

Indonesian diver Nani Suryani had to settle for second place to Thailand's Tammaros Sukrutai in the women's 3-meter springboard.

Nani's trainer Harly Ramayani said Nani felt the judging was unfair.

"She was confident that she would get the gold, because she has performed her dives beautifully and she felt lucky because Indonesia is the host," Harly said, adding that the host country should have a right to send two judges while the other countries are only allowed to send one.

"Thailand's judges helped their athletes by giving them high points at the Chiang Mai's SEA Games," she said.