SEA Games: 16 golds in one day puts Thailand top
Kunanon Sukkaew of Thailand (R) crosses the finish line ahead of Quach Cong Lich of Vietnam (L) in the mens 400m athletics final at the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore on June 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MANAN VATSYAYANA
Singapore, June 12, 2015, AFP – Thailand seized seven athletics golds on Friday as they caught hosts Singapore at the top of the medals table and stamped their authority on the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The last night of track and field turned into a Thai parade, with their sprinters providing the perfect final act with a men's and women's 4x100m relay double.
Thailand edged past Singapore, who have led since day one, on the medals tally with 71 golds to 70 late on Friday, with four days of competition still to go.
Sunisa Khotseemueang played a starring role by winning all seven events of the heptathlon as Thailand took seven out of Friday's 10 athletics titles to reach 17 overall.
Earlier Kunanon Sukkaew outsprinted Vietnam's Quach Cong Lich on the back straight to win a thrilling men's 400m in a Games record 46.00sec.
"I didn't expect it. I expected it to be in the one, two or three position but not the gold medal. I got the gold medal and I am very proud," Kunanon said in Thai after the race.
Here's more from the Associated Press
Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand returns a shot against Lim Yin Fun of Malaysia in their women's team badminton final match during the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore on June 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MANAN VATSYAYANA
Former badminton world champion Ratchanok Intanon spearheaded Thailand's win in the women's team final on Friday, earning one of the 16 gold medals that helped the country overtake Singapore atop the SEA Games medal standings.
The 2013 world champion won the opening match 21-13, 21-14 against Malaysia's Lim Yin Fun, setting the powerful Thai team on course for a 3-0 win in the best-of-five gold-medal match.
Thailand led the men's team final 2-1 but Indonesia rallied to win the last two games for the gold medal.
Thailand also won all four gold medals in golf.