SEAG rivals Thailand, Indonesia fuel Games campaigns

LONDON – Southeast Asian Games overall champion Thailand and resurgent Indonesia gained headway in their medal campaign in the 30th Olympics with the silver medal finish of their weightlifter.

Fireworks lit the sky in Pinsiri Sirikaew’s hometown in Thailand as news about her silver performance was announced Monday. The pretty 22-year-old made a final lift of 236 kilos to win the silver behind defending champion Li Xueying of China who lifted an Olympic record of 246. Her snatch of 108 was also an Olympic mark.

Sirikaew competed in the same category as Filipino Hidilyn Diaz who finished scoreless after a disqualification foul on her three attempts in the clean and jerk.

Another Thai, amazon Rattikan Gulnoi, nearly made it a 2-3 finish for Thailand but fell one kilo short of the eventual bronze winner Yuliya Kalina of the Ukraine (235).

Gulnoi attempted 136 kilos on her third attempt to beat the Ukrainian by a kilo but failed.

Still, the outstanding performance gives the two Thais the outright advantage to complete another 1-2 finish in next year’s SEA Games in Myanmar, relegating Diaz anew to the bronze.

Two Thai boxes also gained headway with first round wins in the flyweight and light flyweight divisions.

Fighting in the lower half of the draw where Anthony Barriga is also competing, Pongprayoon Kaeo took out Algerian Fllissi Mohamed to advance to the round of 16 along with Barriga.

If ever the two will meet in the competition, that will be in the finals on Aug. 11 if each beats his next three opponents.

Also advancing to the next round was Chatchai Butdee, who massacred Turkey’s Ewker Selcuk, 24-10, in the flyweight division.

A third Thai, Saylom Ardee, was eliminated in the lightweight class after a controversial draw at 12-12 in regulation ended in a win by Kazakhstan’s Gani Zhailauov.

Sailom did his best and everyone saw him do better than his opponent,” his coach said.

Indonesia also got a silver from Triyatno Triyatno with a lift of 333 kilos in the 69 kg category, beating Martin Razvan Constantin of Romania (332). Eventual gold medal winner was China’s Lin Qingfeng (344).