Manila: Defending champions Thailand defeated Indonesia 3-1 to claim gold in the women's team badminton event at the SEA Games in Manila, the Philippines on Tuesday.
On a day when Typhoon 'Tisoy' hit various parts of the Philippines, the SEA Games were largely restricted to indoor events.
The women's team badminton gold medal event pit traditional powerhouse Indonesia against Thailand.
Former world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand was up against Gregoria Mariska Tunjung of Indonesia in singles.
Intanon, currently fifth in the world, won the opening game 21-13 before Mariska, ranked 16th, levelled the scores by winning the second game 21-12.
In the third game, the Indonesian was pegged back by her injured knee, hampering her movement around the court.
Intanon, the class player that she is, focused on the game and closed out the match in three, 21-13, 12-21, 21-14 to give Thailand an early lead.
The Indonesian pair of Niketut Istarani & Apriyani Rahayu levelled the tie at one-al; (1-1) by winning their doubles match against Rawinda Prajongjai & Puttita Supajirakul in straight games. They won 21-17, 21-18.
Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan, ranked 15th in the world, was up against an out-of-form Fitriani Fitriani in the second singles.
Ongbamrungphan outclassed her opponent in the first game, winning it 21-8 in quick time.
Even though Fitriani put up a better fight in the second, the Thai won in straight games 21-8, 21-10.
Thailand closed out the tie when they won the second doubles in straight games.
Chayanit Chaladchalam & Phataimas Muenwong defeated Siti Ramadhanti & Ribka Sugiarto 21-8, 21-17 as Thailand took an unassailable 3-1 lead and won the gold medal.
