“Saisunee Jana” made history that shook the world! The first female wheelchair fencer to win 3 Paralympic gold medals at the same time.
2024 Paralympic Games, Paris, France, Fencing competition at the Grand Palais Epee Women’s Individual Class B, final round, “Waew” Saisunee Jana, 50 years old from Chiang Mai Province, who has already won 2 gold medals from women’s sabre and foil individual, the owner of the gold medal in this category in 2004 and 2012, met Kang Soo from China, where Saisunee was in confident form, winning 15-7 points, making Saisunee win the gold medal, the 6th gold medal for the Thai team in the 2024 Paralympic Games and her 3rd gold medal this time from wheelchair fencing sabre, foil and epee, and making history as the first person in the world to win 3 gold medals in women’s individual wheelchair fencing at a single Paralympics.
Looking back at the history of fencing in the past 16 Paralympic Games, which was first held in 1960 or 64 years ago, there was only one person who collected 3
individual gold medals at the same time, but it was the men’s side, Roberto Merson from Italy, who did it in 1968 or 56 years ago, which made Saisunee receive prize money from the National Sports Development Fund, totaling 21.6 million baht at the moment, with each gold medal receiving 7.2 million baht. Saisunee still has to compete in the women’s epee team today, the last 8 teams, the Thai team will meet South Korea at 4:30 p.m. Thai time.
Saisunee said that she felt happy and proud of herself. She didn’t think she could do it. She couldn’t describe the tears of joy and happiness. She was so happy. She didn’t think she could do this much. She set a goal of only 1 gold medal in Epee. What made her successful was focusing on herself.
While the fencing team also won another silver medal from ‘Spy’ Wisit Kingmanow, 35 years old, in the Men’s Epee Individual Class B final, where they lost to Dmitri Kutya from the United Kingdom 10-15.
In the men’s singles table tennis, MS6 class, final round, Rungroj Thai Niyo
m of Thailand, red shirt, lost to Matteo Parenza of Italy 0-3 games 6-11, 6-11, 5-11, resulting in a silver medal.
In summary, the Thai team has won 6 gold medals, 9 silver medals, and 11 bronze medals, ranking 18th on the medal table. This is the best result in the history of Thai athletes since they competed in the previous 9 Paralympic Games. China came in first place, winning 83 gold medals, 64 silver medals, and 41 bronze medals. Second place is the United Kingdom, winning 42 gold medals. Third place is the United States, winning 31 gold medals.
For the Paralympic Games prize money criteria from the National Sports Development Fund, gold medals are 7.2 million baht, silver medals are 4.8 million baht, and bronze medals are 3 million baht .
Source: Thai News Agency