World champion Chaiwat Rattana claimed the nation’s third gold medal when he clocked 14.76 seconds to win the men’s 100m T34 final in wheelchair racing - a new Paralympic record.
This was followed by Para badminton player Sujirat Pookkham winning silver in the women’s singles class WH1 against Japan’s Sarina Satomi.
It was Sujirat’s second medal of the Games after her bronze in the women’s doubles WH1-WH2 event with Amnouy Wetwithan on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mongkhon Bunsun claimed bronze medal in the men’s singles SL3 badminton event after he beat Japan’s Daisuka Fujihara yesterday, taking Thailand’s overall medal tally to 13 at time of press.
Thailand won its first gold medal at the Paralympics in Paris on Sunday (Sept 1) after Phongsakon Payo won the men’s 400 metres T53 class wheelchair racing.
Dominant Phongsakon led the race from start to finish to clock a time of 46.77 seconds and secure the gold medal.
The victory helped Pongsakorn complete a Paralympic Games hat-trick after his gold medal performances at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
The 27-year-old will look to earn another Paralympic treble in the 800m race on Thursday and a double in the 100m event tomorrow.
Pongsakorn holds both a world record (46.11) and a Games record (46.61) in the 400m event. He is also a two-time world champion in the discipline (2019 and 2023).
Shortly afterwards Pongsakorn’s victory on Sunday, compatriot Athiwat Phangnuea won silver in the men’s 400m T54 class wheelchair racing with a time of 44.67 seconds.
Thailand’s second gold medal of the 17th edition of the Paralympics came later Sunday when Worawut Saengampha triumphed in the men’s boccia BC2 class against Muhammad Bintang Herlangga of Indonesia 6-1.
In the day men’s doubles table tennis on Sunday, Rungroj Thainiyom and Phisit Wangphonphathanasiri won silver in the final of the MD14 class against China’s Liao Keli and Yan.
Earlier, Yuttajak Glinbancheun and Wijittra Jaion were also beaten by a pair of Chinese players, going down to Feng Panfeng and Zhou Ying 1-3 (13-11, 7-11, 9-11, 8-11) in the mixed doubles XD7 decider to claim silver, the fourth medal for the Thai table tennis team in Paris.
Yuttajak teamed up with Wanchai Chaiwut to win a bronze medal in the men’s doubles MD8 event last Friday while Dararat Asayut and Chilchitparyak Bootwansirina claimed bronze in the women’s doubles WD5 event 24 hours previous.
Taekwondo athlete Khwansuda Phuangkitcha won the Thailand’s first medal of the Games when she grabbed bronze in the women’s K44 47kg category on Aug 29.
- Additional reporting by the Bangkok Post