China dominates Asian medal haul

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Sydney: Boxer Wijan Ponlid slugged his way to Olympic gold and riches on the final day of the Sydney Games on Sunday with a victory which set off wild celebrations in Thailand.

Ponlid's 19-12 victory over Kazakhstan's world flyweight champion Bulat Jumadilovto was only the second Olympic gold Thailand have ever won.

Ponlid, draped in his national flag, held up a framed photograph of his country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej before screaming fans after his win.

"It was not difficult today. I won because of the support of the King of Thailand and the Thai people," Ponlid said.

Ponlid, a 24-year-old police official, follows in the footsteps of Somluck Kamsing, a national hero since he gave his country their first Olympic gold in 1996.

Kamsing was beaten in the quarter-finals in Sydney.

In Thailand, thousands of ecstatic, beer-drinking Thais sang and danced in the streets of northern Sukhothai province to celebrate Ponlid's Olympic gold.

Officials in Sukhothai, 440 km (275 miles) north of Bangkok, said the police officer and former Thai-style boxer would get a 40-elephant welcome and be feted at a huge banquet on his return.

Prizes and promotion

Thai officials expect Wijan to be showered with prizes worth more than 40 million baht ($1 million) from the government and private sector. He will also be promoted to a higher police rank.

Another Thai boxer, Pornchai Thongburan, took a bronze in the 71 kg class in Sydney, and Thailand also won a women's weightlifting bronze.

China ended up the runaway leader in Asia with 28 golds, a major improvement of 12 over Atlanta.South Korea improved their golden tally from seven in Atlanta to eight and Japan collected five golds, two more than four years ago.

China finished third in the overall medal table with 28 gold, 16 silver and 15 bronze to the United States (39-25-33) and Russia (32-28-28). South Korea wound up on 8-9-11 and Japan 5-8-5.

Japanese hopes of a strong showing in the men's marathon to go with the win by Naoko Takahashi last Sunday in the women's marathon did not materialise.

The marathon, final event before the late-evening Closing Ceremony, was dominated by a trio from Africa, with Ethiopian Gezahgne Abera winning in two hours 10 minutes 11 seconds, ahead of Eric Wainaina of Kenya and Tesfaye Tola, also of Ethiopia.

The first Japanese across the finish line was Shinji Kawashima, in 21st place.



(c) Reuters Limited.