Thai swimming team reigns in the pool

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.