Malaysia have now in turn finished runners-up in this event at the last three finals, including today's contest, and couldn't put the Thai's off their game despite constantly glaring and gesturing at their traditional rivals during the match.
The contest started off with the introduction of Thailand's Panomporn Aiemsa Ard, substituting Rangsirod Sirisamutsarn ahead of the first regu, and the big No 3's introduction paid off handsomely as he claimed most points in the first set with his powerful and consistent horse-serves that led to a 21-15 win.
Malaysia's Mohd Normanizam Ahmad did manage to score a few points with his prolific serve, but was not on par with the brilliance of Aiemsa Ard. And when the intensity of the game got the better of Thailand's Singha Somsakul - the lanky striker landed awkwardly following a spike attempt midway through the second set of the first regu - Thailand's trio went on to cap off a solid performance with a 21-15 win in the second set for a 1-0 lead.
Suebsak Phunsueb of Thailand was surprisingly introduced in the second regu early on, replacing tekong Terdsak Pilae as Thailand looked to settle the final with two regu wins.
Sulaiman Salleh, Mohd Azlan Abd Mubin and Mohammad Zulkarnain Mohamed Arif were unable to lead a Malaysian recovery as Phunsueb, Suriyan Peachan and Pornchai Kaokaew rallied to a 22-20 win in the first set of the second regu.
Kaokaew's flawless spiking, as well Phunsuebs exceptional serving prowess, were influential in Thailand's second regu's first set win, and the Thai trio secured a 21-12 win in the second set of the second regu to record the team's third straight gold medal in the event.
Speaking after the match, Thailand's Phunsueb mapped out how his team secured victory and urged for more support to make sepaktakraw a global sport. "We had studied the Malaysian team - how they served, their spikes, and we used this information to prepare for the final. We won't be celebrating just yet because we still have a lot of work to do to prepare for the regu and double events.
"We already have the King's Cup tournament in Thailand where we welcome any country that wants to play and improve, but we also need more support. For example, we need support to put the games on TV. Maybe that will make it more attractive to the world."Â
By 15th Asian Games, Doha 2006
Posted December 6th, 2006 by harminka
.thumbnail.jpg "Singha Somsakul of Thailand spikes the ball on the way to Thailand's third succsessive gold in the men's sepaktakraw")