Wachara Sondee
Encyclopedia
Wachara Sondee (born 9 April 1983) is a Thai
track and field
athlete who competes in sprinting events. He primarily competes in the 100 metres
and 60 metres
and is the Thai national record
holder for the shorter distance with his best of 6.65 seconds.
He has won medals indoors at three straight editions of the Asian Indoor Games
and was the silver medallist over 60 m at the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
. His highest level achievements came at the 2006 Asian Games
, where he was a 100 m medallist and won the 4×100 m relay title with Thailand. His winning performance in the relay at the 2007 Summer Universiade
in Bangkok was his country's first ever medal in athletics at the games.
Sondee has performed on the global stage at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
and the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
. Much of his success has come at the regional level where he has won three consecutive relay golds at the Southeast Asian Games
to complement individual gold and silver medals in the 100 m.
final of the 2005 Summer Universiade
and a run at the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships. That November, he ran in the 60 metres
final of the inaugural Asian Indoor Games
in Bangkok
, but was beaten to the gold by Yik Chun Tang and had to settle for second place. He won the gold medal
in a Thai 1–2 of the 100 m at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
with Sompote Suwannarangsri
, and the pair teamed up to claim the 4×100 metres relay title.
Sondee ran a personal best and Thai national record
of 6.65 seconds at the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
, but was edged into second place as China's Gong Wei took the 60 m gold. This performance earned him selection for the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
in Moscow the following month, but he was eliminated in the first round. The 2006 Asian Games
that year saw him run a 100 m personal best of 10.39 sec in the final to secure the bronze medal. Sondee and a team including Sittichai Suwonprateep
saw off Japan to win the 4×100 m relay gold medals.
Bangkok hosted the 2007 Summer Universiade
and although Sondee was knocked out of the 100 m at the semi-final stage, his Thai team including Pirom Autas, Suwannarangsri and Suwonprateep won Thailand's first ever medal in the history of the competition by taking the 4×100 m relay gold. In October he equalled his 60 m best at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games
, taking the bronze. He attempted to defend his 100 m title at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games
(also hosted on home territory in Nakhon Ratchasima
), but his personal best run of 10.33 sec was only enough for second behind Indonesia's Suryo Agung Wibowo
.Robinson, Javier Clavelo (2007-12-07). Five records fall as Thailand takes the medal lead - South East Asia Games Day 1. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-05-08. The relay team was unrivalled, however, as Sondee led off the team to a Games record mark of 38.95 seconds.
He missed much of the 2008 season but returned to international competition at the 2009 Summer Universiade
, where he as fourth with the Thai men's relay team. He was chosen for the relay team at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
, but they did not make it into the final round. At the 2009 Asian Indoor Games
he repeated his 2007 performance by taking the 60 m bronze medal. A 10.30-second run at the 2009 SEA Games
brought him a second consecutive silver medal and he also won a gold at the competition for the 4×100 m relay. Sondee reached the 100 m semi-finals at the 2010 Asian Games
, but the Thai men failed to defend their relay title, leaving the competition with the bronze medals on this occasion.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete who competes in sprinting events. He primarily competes in the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
and 60 metres
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
and is the Thai national record
Thai records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Thailand maintained by Athletic Association of Thailand .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:A = affected by altitudedisqualified for doping-External links:*...
holder for the shorter distance with his best of 6.65 seconds.
He has won medals indoors at three straight editions of the Asian Indoor Games
Asian Indoor Games
The Asian Indoor Games is a multi-sport event held every two years among athletes representing countries from Asia. The games are regulated by the Olympic Council of Asia. The first games were held in 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand....
and was the silver medallist over 60 m at the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
The 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships was an international indoor athletics event took place in Pattaya, Thailand, between 10 and 12 February.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:-Participating nations:...
. His highest level achievements came at the 2006 Asian Games
2006 Asian Games
The 15th Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad, is Asia's Olympic-style sporting event that was held in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to December 15, 2006. Doha was the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia to host the games...
, where he was a 100 m medallist and won the 4×100 m relay title with Thailand. His winning performance in the relay at the 2007 Summer Universiade
2007 Summer Universiade
The 2007 Summer Universiade, also known as the XXIV Summer Universiade, took place in Bangkok, Thailand.-Medal table:-External links:***...
in Bangkok was his country's first ever medal in athletics at the games.
Sondee has performed on the global stage at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
and the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations was held in Moscow from March 10 to March 12, 2006 in the Olimpiyski Sport arena....
. Much of his success has come at the regional level where he has won three consecutive relay golds at the Southeast Asian Games
Southeast Asian Games
The Southeast Asian Games , is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia...
to complement individual gold and silver medals in the 100 m.
Career
Sondee made his first international appearances in 2005, starting with a sixth place finish in the 100 metres100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
final of the 2005 Summer Universiade
Athletics at the 2005 Summer Universiade
The athletics competition in the 2005 Summer Universiade was held on the İzmir Atatürk Stadyumu in İzmir, Turkey, between 15 August and 20 August 2005.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:* - GBR Athletics* - GBR Athletics* - FIBU...
and a run at the 2005 Asian Athletics Championships. That November, he ran in the 60 metres
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
final of the inaugural Asian Indoor Games
Indoor athletics at the 2005 Asian Indoor Games
Indoor athletics at the 2005 Asian Indoor Games was held in Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand from 13 November to 15 November 2005.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:-References:*...
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, but was beaten to the gold by Yik Chun Tang and had to settle for second place. He won the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in a Thai 1–2 of the 100 m at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
Athletics at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games
The athletics events at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games were held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila, Philippines. The Marathon event was run from the Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City, Philippines on December 4, 2005....
with Sompote Suwannarangsri
Sompote Suwannarangsri
Sompote Suwannarangsri is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Thailand.Suwannarangsri represented Thailand at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He competed at the 4x100 metres relay together with Siriroj Darasuriyong, Apinan Sukaphai and Sittichai Suwonprateep...
, and the pair teamed up to claim the 4×100 metres relay title.
Sondee ran a personal best and Thai national record
Thai records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Thailand maintained by Athletic Association of Thailand .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:A = affected by altitudedisqualified for doping-External links:*...
of 6.65 seconds at the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
The 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships was an international indoor athletics event took place in Pattaya, Thailand, between 10 and 12 February.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:-Participating nations:...
, but was edged into second place as China's Gong Wei took the 60 m gold. This performance earned him selection for the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations was held in Moscow from March 10 to March 12, 2006 in the Olimpiyski Sport arena....
in Moscow the following month, but he was eliminated in the first round. The 2006 Asian Games
Athletics at the 2006 Asian Games
An Athletics competition was contested at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar from December 7 to December 12. Twenty-three events were contested for the men while 22 were on the slate for the women. Only the 3000 Meter Steeplechase was not contested for by the women...
that year saw him run a 100 m personal best of 10.39 sec in the final to secure the bronze medal. Sondee and a team including Sittichai Suwonprateep
Sittichai Suwonprateep
Sittichai Suwonprateep is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Thailand.Suwonprateep represented Thailand at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He competed at the 4x100 metres relay together with Siriroj Darasuriyong, Sompote Suwannarangsri and Apinan Sukaphai...
saw off Japan to win the 4×100 m relay gold medals.
Bangkok hosted the 2007 Summer Universiade
Athletics at the 2007 Summer Universiade
The athletics competition at the 2007 Summer Universiade was held in the Main Stadium at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand, between 9 August and 14 August 2007.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medals table:-Results:******...
and although Sondee was knocked out of the 100 m at the semi-final stage, his Thai team including Pirom Autas, Suwannarangsri and Suwonprateep won Thailand's first ever medal in the history of the competition by taking the 4×100 m relay gold. In October he equalled his 60 m best at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games
Indoor athletics at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games
Indoor athletics at the 2007 Asian Indoor Games was held in Macau East Asian Games Dome, Macau, China from 30 October to 1 November 2007.-Medal table:-Men:-Women:-60 metres:Round 1 – October 30Semi-final – October 30...
, taking the bronze. He attempted to defend his 100 m title at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games
Athletics at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games
The athletics events at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games were held at the Main Stadium in His Majesty the King's 80th Birthday Anniversary, 5th December 2007 Sports Complex, Nakhon Ratchasima from December 7 to December 11.-Men:-Women's:-Medal table:...
(also hosted on home territory in Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima or is a city in the north-east of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district...
), but his personal best run of 10.33 sec was only enough for second behind Indonesia's Suryo Agung Wibowo
Suryo Agung Wibowo
Suryo Agung Wibowo is an Indonesian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres. Dubbed as "the Fastest Man in Southeast Asia," his personal best time, also the current Southeast Asian Games record is 10.17 seconds achieved at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos.He competed at the 2003 World...
.Robinson, Javier Clavelo (2007-12-07). Five records fall as Thailand takes the medal lead - South East Asia Games Day 1. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-05-08. The relay team was unrivalled, however, as Sondee led off the team to a Games record mark of 38.95 seconds.
He missed much of the 2008 season but returned to international competition at the 2009 Summer Universiade
Athletics at the 2009 Summer Universiade
The athletics competition at the 2009 Summer Universiade was held at the Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, Serbia from July 7 to July 12, 2009.-Men's events:In Long Jump, Kim Deok-Hyeon's record is not unofficial....
, where he as fourth with the Thai men's relay team. He was chosen for the relay team at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, but they did not make it into the final round. At the 2009 Asian Indoor Games
Indoor athletics at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games
Indoor athletics at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games was held in My Dinh Indoor Athletics Gymnasium, Hanoi, Vietnam from 31 October to 2 November 2009....
he repeated his 2007 performance by taking the 60 m bronze medal. A 10.30-second run at the 2009 SEA Games
Athletics at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games
At the 2009 Southeast Asian Games, the athletics events will be held at the Laos National Stadium in Vientiane, Laos from 13 December to 17 December...
brought him a second consecutive silver medal and he also won a gold at the competition for the 4×100 m relay. Sondee reached the 100 m semi-finals at the 2010 Asian Games
Athletics at the 2010 Asian Games
Athletics at the 2010 Asian Games was held in Guangzhou, China from 21 to 27 November 2010. A total of 47 events were contested, 24 by men and 23 by women - matching the Olympic athletics programme...
, but the Thai men failed to defend their relay title, leaving the competition with the bronze medals on this occasion.