The Lao muay team became the most successful in the country's history when the close of competition at the ongoing SEA Games saw a haul of five gold medals around their necks.
Yesterday was the final day of the muay events at this year's SEA Games. The Lao team had four boxers in the ring competing in seven gold medal bouts. At the end of the day the Lao team took home three gold medals and one silver.
The team won two other gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal on Monday.
The three gold medals for Laos yesterday came from Phoutthasone Keosayavong in the female light flyweight 48kg, Thongbang Seuaphom in the male flyweight 51kg and Paylor Xaypao in the female featherweight 57kg division.
Thongbang Seuaphom said after the medal presentation ceremony “This gold medal is a great honour for me because it is my international competition debut.”
“My future now is to continue to have more international fights with the national squad and to win more gold medals for Laos ,” the 20-year-old Thongbang said.
On the same day, the shuttlecock team also had their best success by scooping two gold medals and one silver.
The first gold came in the men's doubles from Southisone Thonmanivong and Khamphong Phouthong.
Another gold medal was won in the mixed doubles by Ms Pathoumphone Phammachane and Mr Phongeun Kongmany, while the silver medal was won in the women's doubles by Ms Malaythong Daosisavan and Ms Khamkhoun Luanglath.
Yesterday's gold medals followed the first gold medal for the shuttlecock team on December 13 from Southisone Thonmanivong in the men's singles event.
Vice Minister and Head of the Prime Minister's Office and President of the Lao National Shuttlecock Federation, Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara, said yesterday “After three days of competition our team has won three gold medals and one silver medal. This is a very great success.”
“Although today is the final day of the shuttlecock competition, there are still two gold medals up for grabs for the men's and women's teams. Our hope is to win at least one more gold medal.”
The latest medal standings updated at 7pm on Tuesday placed Laos in seventh position out of the 11 competing countries with 22 gold, 11 silver and 35 bronze medals. This was on the seventh day of competition since the official opening ceremony on December 9.
The best medal tally for Laos in any previous SEA Games was 5 gold, 7 silver and 32 bronze medals.
By Sisay Vilaysack
vientianetimes
