The 24th Southeast Asian Games ended on Saturday with hosts Thailand scooping a mammoth 183 golds, but the 10-day showpiece was overshadowed by claims of unfair judging. With golden fireworks, music and traditional Thai dancing, the biennial event drawing 11 countries closed its curtain at the main stadium in Korat, north-eastern Thailand.
"I am glad to preside over the closing ceremony. Sports events not only strengthen relations among nations but also give opportunities for athletes to develop their skills," Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said.
The chairman of the Thai National Olympic Committee, General Yuthasak Sasiprapa, handed over the Southeast Asian Games flag to Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Somsawat Lengsavad at the ceremony, whose nation will host the competition in 2009.
Thailand bagged 409 medals in total, including 183 golds, racing far ahead of second-ranking Malaysia, which won 68 golds. Vietnam finished third with 64 golds.
Among the 11 competitors, East Timor was the only country that did not win any medals. The tiny half-island nation was the world's newest country after gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002.
On Friday, soccer-crazed Thailand basked in the glory after beating Myanmar 2-0 to take the football gold and securing their eighth consecutive SEA Games title. On the tennis court, defending champion Cecil Mamiit of the Philippines shocked Thai hotshot Danai Udomchoke to take the gold Friday.
But the boxing tournament was thrown into chaos Thursday after six Philippine fighters retired in a protest over the judging, and their walkout helped hosts Thailand sweep to all 10 boxing golds.
The Philippines' chef de mission Monico Puentevella told AFP earlier that the decision to retire from the fights was taken by the boxers following the results in the women's contests Wednesday. Many Lopez, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, called the boxing competition a "comic show" after Thailand won six out of the seven women's events.
There have also been allegations of biased judging in favour of Thai athletes in the weightlifting. The biennial SEA Games have been dogged before by accusations of bias, with this year's event marking a role reversal for Thailand, who levied similar claims against the Philippines at the last Games in Manila. The SEA Games participants were Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
MEDALS TABLE:
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Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
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Thailand 183 123 103 409
Malaysia 68 52 96 216
Vietnam 64 58 82 204
Indonesia 56 64 83 203
Singapore 43 43 41 127
Philippines 41 91 96 228
Myanmar 14 26 47 87
Laos 5 7 32 44
Cambodia 2 5 11 18
Brunei 1 1 4 6
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