Thai sprint king Puripol: The fastest man in Asia

ASIAN GAMES: Record-setter is first Thai men’s 100m gold winner in nearly 50 years

Puripol Boonson tore up the record books and Asia’s sprinting order on Friday night, blazing to 100-metre gold in 9.90 seconds to crown himself the continent’s fastest man in front of a roaring Nagoya crowd.

The 20-year-old broke his own Asian Games record to win gold in the blue riband event in 9.90 seconds at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium to become Thailand’s first men’s 100m champion since Suchart Jairsuraparp’s victory on home soil at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games.

Puripol’s semi-final run of 9.91sec earlier on Friday had eclipsed the 9.92sec by China’s Su Bingtian at the 2018 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia.

But Puripol, who won silver in the discipline in Hangzhou three years ago, shaved another 100th off that in the final to finish well clear of the Omani pair of Ali Al-Balushi (10.04) and Malham Al-Balushi (10.11).

Puripol became Southeast Asia’s first runner to break the 10-second barrier when he ran 9.94 at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in December last year and entered the Japan meet in fine form after posting 9.99 seconds at a race in the Czech Republic last month.

In the women’s 100 race, Jirapat Khanonta (11.46) and Sukanda Petraksa (11.48) finished fifth and sixth respectively on Friday.

China’s Chen Yujie won in a Games-record 11.06sec to relegate the Hangzhou gold medallist, Singapore’s Shanti Pereira (11.21), to the silver. Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong took bronze in 11.33.

Lifters keep delivering

Weightlifter Weeraphon Wichuma claimed another silver medal for the Thai contingent after finishing second in the men’s 75kg category on Saturday.

Weeraphon, who won the 73kg silver at the Paris Olympics, hauled 160kg in the opening snatch event and lifted 205kg in clean and jerk to finish with a combined 365kg.

The gold medal went to Indonesia’s Irwin Ramat Abdullah, who edged the Thai in the clean and jerk by just one kilo. North Korea’s Ri Chong Song took bronze with 357kg.

Weeraphon’s silver was the fourth medal of the lifting team following the success of Suratwadee Yodsan (women’s 57kg — silver), Theerapong Silachai (men’s 60kg — bronze) and Surodchana Khambao (women’s 53kg — bronze).

The esports team also made the podium on Saturday as Tanarak Wongkitikun bagged the bronze medal in the Puyo Puyo Champions event.

Tanarak lost 10-1 in the semi-finals to Japan’s Yuki Kurihara, who went on to win the gold medal.

It was the second medal for the esports team following the Naraka: Bladepoint silver on Thursday.

Vareeraya in final

Skateboarder Vareeraya Sukasem qualified for the final of the women’s street event after placing third with 110.07 points in heat 2 of the preliminary round.

BMX freestyle stars Saithan Phetnum and Rungrueang Phamee also reached the final after they finished second and third respectively in heat 1 of the men’s park qualification round.

Boxer Kangpi Bokhunthod moved into the quarter-finals of the men’s 55kg event after a 3-2 victory over Samandar Olimov of Uzbekistan on Saturday.

Jakkapon Yomkhot also progressed as he defeated Nepal’s Rabin Nepal with a 5-0 unanimous decision in the men’s 90kg event, but fellow Thai Punrawee Ruenros exited after losing to China’s Yang Chengyu by the same score in the women’s 60kg round of 16.

Ratchanok advances

In badminton, Ratchanok Intanon defeated Kim Jin Hyang of North Korea 21-14, 21-3 in the women’s singles second round but Pornpawee Chochuwong lost to Taiwan’s Lin Hsiang-ti 14-21, 16-21.

She was scheduled to play Singapore’s Yeo Jia Min in the third round later on Saturday.

Kunlavut Vitidsarn was another player who had to play two matches in one day. He came through his second round match against Pui Pang Fong of Macau 21-6, 21-10 and was due to play Vietnam’s Nguyen Hai Dang in the third round later last night.

Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun ended their challenge in the second round after they lost to Daniel Marthin and Leo Rolly Carnando of Indonesia 8-21, 22-24.

Women’s doubles pairs Jhenicha Sudjaipraparat/Nuntakarn Aimsaard and Napapakorn Tungkasatan/Hathaithip Mijad also bowed out in the second round on Saturday.

In table tennis, Suthasini Sawettabut and Orawan Paranang beat Shin Yu-Bin and Joo Cheon-Hui of South Korea 3-2 to reach the women’s doubles semi-finals and assure themselves of at least a bronze medal.