Surat thani: "Aunt Paew" narrowly won by 1 point to claim the women's individual petanque championship. The 8th National Senior Games, "Tapi Games 69," featured the women's individual petanque final at the Surat Thani Provincial Stadium. Rain fell before the match. "Paew" Jeerawan Kalaya, a Thai national petanque player from Samut Prakan and the 2025 SEA Games gold medalist in the women's team event, faced Waraporn Sripothiwang from Buriram. The game was closely contested, with both players trading leads until the score was tied at 12-12. The match went down to the wire, with "Paew" ultimately securing a narrow 13-12 victory, winning the gold medal. This win came after her previous performance in the women's doubles event where she only managed a silver medal. The 61-year-old "Paew" praised her opponent's skill and expressed relief at the win, noting the tight match and her limited practice, despite some less-than-ideal throws. According to Thai News Agency, in the men's individual final, an upset occurred w hen Rachen Khamprathom from Nakhon Sawan province displayed outstanding form in both placement and hitting, defeating the defending champion Phisit Yindisap from Nakhon Ratchasima by a decisive 13-0 score to win the gold medal. Phisit took the silver medal. In the table tennis final at Prince of Songkla University, Surat Thani Campus, in the men's singles 70+ age category, Mr. Tawiroj Pongtemsuk, a former Thai national team player from Bangkok competing in this age group for the first time, faced Mr. Somchai Jaruchutharat from Suphan Buri. Mr. Tawiroj, still displaying his national team skills, won 3-0 (12-10, 11-7, and 11-6), securing the gold medal. After winning the gold medal, Mr. Tawiroj, who recently turned 70, said he has been playing table tennis for over 50 years and still plays every day, alongside running. He noted that table tennis requires strong eyesight, so he tries to avoid using mobile phones and wears sunglasses to protect himself from the sun. In the Standard Master IV Single Dance Waltz final at the Suratthani School's ballroom dancing hall, Pranom Tantikan and Surachai Krisanapiyawan, contestants number 108 from Bangkok, impressed the judges and won the gold medal. The silver medal went to Thammanawan Lueangcharoenkul and Pisit Inthalaengkhanapong, also from Bangkok. Today's program includes competitions for 143 gold medals: Swimming (65 gold medals), Athletics (50 gold medals), Shooting (10 gold medals), Golf (7 gold medals), Bodybuilding (5 gold medals), Woodball (4 gold medals), and Gateball (2 gold medals). The latest medal tally shows Bangkok leading with 78 gold, 71 silver, and 65 bronze medals. Following closely are Surat Thani (the host city) with 55 gold medals, Chiang Mai in third with 26 gold medals, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya in fourth with 17 gold medals, and Chonburi in fifth with 17 gold medals.
