SINGAPORE — Koi Sie Yan and Shasangari Nagarajan couldn't be separated in the rhythmic gymnastics individual all around final Sunday, finishing with a rare share of the gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games. The Malaysian teammates finished level with 60.250 points, with Thailand's Prawatyotin Panjarat taking bronze with 57.350 points. “It is a bonus for us to win two gold medals in one event,” Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told the Bernama news agency after presenting the medals. “I hope this success will inspire other young gymnasts to excel.” Koi posted the leading scores in hoop and ball and was second in clubs to Nagarajan, who also posted the top score in ribbons. Thailand picked up three of the first four Pencak Silat tanding titles to lead the medal standings with 87 golds, six ahead of host Singapore and 15 clear of third-place Vietnam late on the third-to-last night of competition. The Thai delegation is expecting another important gold Monday, when the 14-time champions go into the football final against Myanmar as a hot favorite after a 5-0 semifinal win against Indonesia and scoring 21 goals and conceding just one in the tournament so far. “We are 100 percent confident that we can win,” Thailand captain Sarach Yooyen told a news conference Sunday. Myanmar edged Vietnam 2-1 in the other semifinal to reach only its third SEA Games final since its golden run of five consecutive gold medals ended in 1973. “Our supporters from Myanmar and the people who have supported us here in Singapore are all very passionate for success from our football team,” Myanmar coach Kyi Lwin said. “They are important in us making it all the way to the final.” The men's basketball final is also scheduled for Monday, and the Philippines will feature — as expected — after a comeback 80-75 win over Thailand. Philippines has won all but one of the SEA Games basketball gold medals since the sport was introduced to the program in 1977, winning 10 straight titles since Malaysia broke the sequence 1989. Jeth Rosario led the Filipinos with 27 points and 12 rebounds, helping his team overcome deficits after the first two quarters after Thailand got away to 43-33 lead at half time. Marlina Herawan scored a game-high 15 points as Indonesia finished the women's basketball round-robin with a 4-1 record after a 52-46 win over Thailand Sunday, securing at least a silver medal. In the women's volleyball, gold-medal favorite Thailand fended off Indonesia 21-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-13 to reach the final in a game that was tied 19-19-19 in the third after the opening two sets were split. Eleven-year-old waterskier Aaliyah Yoong became the youngest athlete to win a golden double at the SEA Games with her victory in the women's overall event. She defended her title in the tricks competition on Friday. Her 38-year-old brother, the ex-Formula One driver Alex Yoong, took silver in the men's overall competition. Singapore's women survived an almighty scare before edging out Thailand in a penalty shootout after the teams had played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the floorball final in front of an ecstatic home crowd on Sunday. Less than an hour later, the city-state's men were on court enjoying a drama-free evening as the favorites eased to a 9-0 win over their Thai counterparts, romping to an emphatic victory that secured a day of double delight for the host nation. Singapore has invested heavily in the sport that plays like ice hockey on a wooden floor and their women were taken the distance by a determined Thai outfit before goalkeeper Fariza Mohamed Zabir proved the difference between the teams. — AP
