Thai Polo Players Win Historic Gold Medal

Bangkok: The Srivaddhanaprabha brothers, Aiyawatt and Apichet, led the Thai national polo team to victory over Brunei, making history by winning Thailand's first ever SEA Games gold medal. According to Thai News Agency, the polo match at the 33rd SEA Games, held at VS Sport Club in Bang Bua District, Samut Prakan Province, featured the 2-4 goal final between Thailand, the silver medalists from the 29th SEA Games, and Brunei, a former rival that Thailand narrowly defeated 7.5-7 in the first round. The Thai team was led by the two brothers Aiyawatt and Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha, along with Nattapong Pratumlee and Thanasilp Chuewangkhum. Brunei used the same players from the first round, led by Prince Abdul Mateen Bolkiah, Prince Bahar Jefri Bolkiah, Princess Asimah Bolkiah, and Farid Abdullah. Thailand defeated Brunei 7.5-0, with Nattapong scoring 4 goals, Aiyawat scoring 2, and Apichat adding 1. This historic gold medal for the Thai polo team at the SEA Games marks their first ever gold medal in polo since i ts inclusion in the 24th SEA Games (where Thailand won bronze and silver at the 29th). They also have a chance to win a second gold medal in the 4-6 goal event. After the game, "Top" Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the team captain, brought a picture of his father, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the pioneer and founder of the Thai Polo Association, to celebrate the championship. He said, "We wanted to do this for our father because he was the one who started polo in Thailand, and today we have achieved it."