Lao gold tally hits 25, 7th placing
Laos finished yesterday 7th in the medal standings, winning three gold medals in the day to push the Lao gold tally to 25.
Aside from gold medals Laos has also netted 16 silver and 40 bronze medals so far in the games.
Yesterday’s gold medals came from Phonenaly Sayarath, who won the women’s 48kg to 52kg judo final, Amdavanh Phanmibounkong who won the women’s 400m surface fin swimming event and Chrichina Sindara who won the women’s 50m surface fin swimming.
In the judo, Ms Phonenaly wowed Lao fans with an amazing win over her Thai opponent Sureerat Sadmaroeng in the final round of the last fight of the day at the Chao Anouvong Budo Centre.
Ms Phonenaly won in the last minutes of the game with spectacular block to a throw attempt from the Thai fighter, joint locking the elbow and executing a choke.
Ms Phonenaly was one of three Lao Judo fighters to enter to the judo finals, team mates Ms Chipchida Bouthphaksone and Ms Phetnida Syamphone winning silver medals after both losing to Vietnamese opponents.
“I felt very good to bring this medal to our nation as well as to the Lao Judo Federation, because this is the 23rd gold medal for Laos and the first gold for our federation,” Ms Phonenaly said of her victory.
“I felt quite sure I could fight her as we have equal skills and talent. I just tried to do my best and there was only one phrase in my head, just fight for our nation-for our nation,” she said.
Ms Phonenaly said she wanted to show her appreciation to her federation president who gave her the chance to study and train in Japan over the pastthree years.
Ms Phonenaly began training judo in 2003 and this is her third SEA Games competition, winning bronze in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand.
Most Lao Judo fighters spent the past year training at first and second black belt levels in Japan and at a national camp. The Lao federation, supported by KP Company Ltd, Lao Toyota and other companies, has pledged 200 million kip worth of prizes to team members who win medals.
Gold medallists will receive a motorbike, and silver and bronze medallists will be rewarded with cash prizes.
Judo events in the 25th SEA Games include men’s 55kg to over 100kg categories and women’s 45 to over 78kg.
The Lao judo team won two gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the last SEA Games in Thailand.
Source: KPL Lao News Agency
December 17, 2009
