BANGKOK - In a stunning display of athletic prowess, Thailand clinched three medals, including one gold, in a single day at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday, igniting a wave of national pride.
Thailand's taekwondo sensation Panipak Wongpattanakit, better known as "Tennis," etched her name in Olympic history on Wednesday by successfully defending her women's 49kg title at the Paris Games.
Panipak, celebrating her 27th birthday on Thursday, secured her second consecutive Olympic gold, making history as the first Thai athlete to win two Olympic gold medals.
Thailand’s historic Olympic day continued as the nation added one silver and one bronze medal to its tally - by weightlifters Theerapong Silachai in men's 61kg category and Surodchana Khambao in women's 49kg category, respectively.
The extraordinary performance has sparked national pride and a flurry of congratulatory messages on social media.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, congratulated the athletes and expressed his elation after they secured three medals in a single day at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"Tennis (Panipak) has made Thai people happy again. She defeated her competitor from China to win the first gold for Thailand at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. It’s also a gold medal on her birthday. That’s amazing.
"It’s another historic day for Thailand as we received three medals in one day. I would like to congratulate everyone. Each medal is an achievement and a source of pride for us Thais,” he wrote on X, Thursday.
Srettha also congratulated Thai weightlifters Theerapong and Surodchana.
"Theerapong, making his Olympic debut at just 20 years old, secured a silver medal and is considered to have a bright future ahead.
"Surodchana also won a bronze medal in the women’s 49kg category with a total lift of 200 kg. That’s very strong,” he wrote.
The three-medal success on Wednesday brought Thailand’s total medal haul at the Paris Olympics to one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.
On Monday, Thailand’s talented shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn secured a silver medal in men’s singles, marking the country’s first-ever Olympic badminton medal. Janjaem Suwannapheng added to Thailand’s medal tally by winning bronze in the women’s welterweight boxing category.
In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Thailand won one gold and one bronze medal. - BERNAMA