Southeast Asia's fastest man

On Tuesday Thailand's Jirapong Meenapra won the track and field gold in the men's 100 metres, making the fastest man in the region. Yesterday, he repeated the feat winning the 200 metres as well. Altogether he has won three golds.

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Jirapong Meenapra, right, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men’s 100m Wednesday. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Friday update

Jirapong does it again

Jirapong Meenapra celebrates his 200m win with Usain Bolt’s bow and arrow pose. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Jirapong Meenapra completed a sprint double yesterday with his win in the men's 200m.

Having won the 100m title a day earlier, the Surat Thani star crossed the line in 21.29sec to beat Harith Ammar Sobri of Malaysia (21.46) and Trong Hinh Le of Vietnam (21.47).

It was Thailand's first triumph in the men's 200m in eight years with Sitthichai Suworapratheep achieving the feat in 2005.

Jirapong had also won the 4x100m relay title, making him the first Thai to claim three gold medals in athletics in one SEA Games since Rienchai Sihawong in 2001.

''Actually, I targeted only two gold medals. I only hoped for a top-three finish in the 200m,'' said Jirapong who celebrated the victory with Jaimaican sprinter Usain Bolt's trademark bow and arrow pose.

''My gold medals are a New Year present for all Thais.''

Thursday story

Jirapong surges to victory in 100m

Wassana wins second gold from 400m hurdles

Kittipong Thongsombat

One of the "glamour" events at the 27th SEA Games is the men's 100 metres in track and field, the fastest running event. Yesterday Thailand's Jirapong Meenapra won the gold, making him the fastest man in the region.

But Thailand will have to wait for at least another two years to claim the women's 100m title as their runners could only take silver and bronze.

Jirapong, from Surat Thani, crossed the finish line in 10.48sec, ahead of Indonesia's Isawandi (10.51) and Muhammad Jamal of Singapore (10.55).

"I am really happy although my time was much slower than my personal best of 10.35," said Jirapong, who became Thailand's first 100m winner since Watchara Sondee in 2005.

"I was in lane five and was sandwiched by Indonesian runners in lane four and lane six. That made me feel uncomfortable but I managed to win."

In his first SEA Games, the 20-year-old Thai, who only started running the distance three years ago, will also compete in the men's 200m.

With his success in Myanmar, he now eyes a top-three finish in the 100m at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

In the women's 100m, Vietnam's Thi Huong Vu claimed gold in 11.59sec, comfortably beating Thais Neeranuch Klomdee (11.85) and Tassaporn Wannakit (11.91).

Neeranuch, the last Thai to win the event in 2003, said the 27-year-old Vietnamese, who won silver at the 2010 Asian Games, had been one of the continent's top sprinters in the past few years.

"She is a great runner and deserves the win," Neeranuch said.

The 33-year-old veteran has represented Thailand for 16 years and this will be her last SEA Games. She aims to take part in next year's Asian Games before retiring.

Having already won the gruelling heptathlon, the 400 metres hurdles was almost too much for Thailand's Wassana Winatho. She recovered quickly, however, to celebrate her second gold medal. PATIPAT JANTHONG

Wassana Winatho claimed her second gold of the Myanmar Games with her win in the women's 400m hurdles. She crossed the line in 58.85sec.

Wassana, who had won gold in the heptathlon, said she was unsure if she would be fit for today's long jump because of back pain.

In the men's javelin throw, Peerchet Jantra took home the title with a Games record of 76.30m, ahead of compatriot Hussadin Rodmanee, who managed 75.46m.

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