Thailand predicts haul of 120 golds

Thailand, which ruled two of the last five Southeast Asian Games, will be out to reassert its supremacy in the regional meet when the 23rd SEA Games is held Nov. 27-Dec. 5 in Manila and three other satellite venues.

Maj. Gen. Charouck Arirachakaran, secretary-general of the Thailand’s Olympic Committee, yesterday predicted a 120-gold medal haul by the Thais that could be good enough to claim the overall championship in the biennial games.

"This is based on the given targeted medals of each sport association that we have already talked to, they’re the ones who gave the figures," said Arirachakaran, who also heads the sepak takraw association back home, in a meeting with top local officials Tuesday night.

He said they expect most of the golds from medal-rich events like athletics, swimming and shooting. Thailand, which took the overall crown in the 1995 and 1999 Games in Chiang Mai and Brunei is also fancied in boxing, weightlifting, lawn tennis and in the ball games.

"Thailand is sending a strong delegation because we want to contend for the overall title," said Arirachakaran, who is fielding in some 700 athletes in the biennial meet slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

Arirachakaran said Vietnam, which topped the 2003 Hanoi edition, is going to be a force to reckon with.

And so does the Philippines.

"Vietnam is strong, they have athletes who are currently training in China for over a year now," he said. "The Philippines has the advantage because they are the host."

Harry Angping, who heads the technical committee of the Philippine Olympic Committee, last week predicted that the hosts, eyeing a first-ever overall championship, can win a minimum of 109 golds and a maximum of 171.

"This is an honest-to-goodness assessment," said Angping, president of the RP softball association and member of the RP chef de mission task force.

Arirachakaran is the second Thai official who visited the country in a month after Thailand Olympic Committee vice-president Chaiyapak Siriwat, who voiced the same sentiment based on the current trend.

Malaysia copped the overall title when it hosted the SEAG in 2001, with Vietnam lording it over in 2003 when it took its turn to host it.

In 1991, RP came close to the overall title, falling one gold medal short of Indonesia.

One factor that is also expected to boost the Thais is the participation of Princess Shiriwanwale Narirat, one of the two daughters of Thailand’s crowned Prince Maha Watchera Loongkon who is joining badminton.

The 18-year-old Princess Narirat finished fourth in the singles event two years back.