SEA Games: Thailand dominates first day

Nakhon Ratchasima:

Thailand dominated the first day of track and field Friday at the Southeast Asian Games, winning six of the nine gold medals on offer.

Thailand now has 28 golds to lead the medal standings, with Vietnam moving into second place with 13 golds.

However, Indonesia's Suryo Agung Wibowo won the men's 100 meter final, setting a new SEA Games record of 10.25 seconds to edge Thailand's Wachara Sondee in second and Malaysia's A Hadi Mohammad Noor Imran in third.

Vietnam's Thi Huong Vu won the women's 100 race in 11.47 seconds despite a slow start, ahead of Thailand's Nongnuch Sanrat and Indonesia's Irene Truitje Joseph.

Thailand's Jutamass Tawoncharoen set the day's best time by winning her semifinal in 11.38 but did not take her place in the final because of an injury.

Four other SEA Games records were also broken during the day.

Vietnam's Truong Thanh Hang had the most dominant performance, bettering her own record to win the women's 1,500 meters in 4 minutes, 11.60 seconds - almost seven seconds ahead of her old mark.

Thailand's Chatchawai Polyemg won the men's shot put with 17.43 meters and compatriot Buonban Panang the women's javelin with 55.97 meters _ both Games records, although far from their personal bests.

Thailand's Theerayut Philakong set the fifth Games record, leaping 16.44 meters to win the men's triple jump.

Away from the track and field, Thailand's Tawalchai Masae won the men's cross-country mountain bike event and Vietnam's Thi Thanhbuyen Nguyen took the women's race.

Malaysia triumphed in the team dressage at the equestrian competition, ahead of Indonesia and Thailand.

Vietnam had the best start to the freestyle wrestling events, taking gold in the men's 84-kilogram and women's 51-kilogram classes.

Thailand had success in the duilian event of wushu martial arts, beating Malaysia and Myanmar.

Laos won its first gold medal of the Games in the men's shooting petanque.