However, Rungkat went down against Weerapat Doakmaiklee, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, and Danai Udomchoke followed with a workmanlike, 6-1, 6-3 win against opposing number one, Elbert Sie (ATP 711) to seal the gold medal for the hosts. Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana then completed the victory by beating Rungkat and Sie, 6-2, 6-1, in the meaningless doubles.

At the 2005 SEAG in Manila, Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino led the Philippines to the men's team gold by overcoming a Thai contingent devoid of both Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke in the semis, and then followed that up with a 2-1 victory over Indonesia in the final.

In the men's doubles gold medal game, the Ratiwatana Twins from Thailand beat second-seeded Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, despite football-style home support for the pair of Filipino-Americans. In the semis, the top-seeded Thai duo was almost toppled by Indo veterans Suwandi Suwandi and Bonit Wiryawan, as they had to come from a set down to win their semifinal, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. In similar veins, Mamiit and Taino yielded the first set before beating Simpatiaji and Sunu Wahyu Trijati, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2.

In the 2005 men's singles final, Mamiit, the number two seed, defeated No. 1 Udomchoke in a titanic struggle, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to claim gold. These two are again seeded to meet in the final this year.

Next February, the Hong Kong Davis Cup team will be travelling to Indonesia for an Asia/Oceania Zone Group II first round tie. The losing nation from this encounter will then have to face either China or Lebanon in a relegation playoff to decide which team gets to avoid the drop down to Group III in 2009.

When the territory played host to the Indonesians in a Group II first round tie this past February at Victoria Park, Prima Simpatiaji and Elbert Sie were the singles players for the visitors, while Rungkat and Suwandi were the nominated doubles pairing.

Hong Kong managed to split the opening day singles when Wayne Wong defeated Elbert Sie, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1, to level things at 1-1 after Simpatiaji had registered a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win against Yu Hiu Tung first up.

Then on Saturday, Rungkat and Suwandi fended off all thirteen break points they faced to beat Wayne Wong and Yu Hiu Tung, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0, to win the all-important doubles to give their team a 2-1 lead. Sie then wrapped up the tie by beating Henry So, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3, 6-3, in the first reverse singles, with Michael Lai winning the reverse dead rubber, 7-6(5), 6-2, against Rungkat.

Yet since losing to Kuwait in the ensuing Group II semifinals, Prima Simpatiaji has only played a handful of Futures events on the pro circuit, and his ranking has dropped to an all-time low of No. 1382 after having peaked at No. 613 back in June 2006.

Suwandi, who turns 32 next year, has continued to represent his country in Davis Cup play, albeit only in doubles now. Since winning the Indonesia F3 Futures in August 2006, he has not competed in any pro circuit events, and he no longer holds a professional ranking in either singles or doubles at present.

Elbert Sie, meanwhile, reached a career-high No. 687 this past October after advancing to the final of the Indonesia F5 Futures in late September. At No. 711, the twenty year-old is currently Indonesia's top player.

If the Indonesian's line-up at this week's SEAG was anything to go by, it appears Christopher Rungkat and Elbert Sie will be their two leading singles players for the foreseeable future, and that the experienced Suwandi might continue to partner Rungkat in doubles, for now.

Results
24th South East Asian Games
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
6-16 December 2007

MEN'S TEAM FINAL

(1)Thailand defeated (2)Indonesia  3 - 0
R-1 Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA) d. Christopher Rungkat (INA) 6-2 6-2
R-2 Danai Udomchoke (THA) d. Elbert Sie (INA) 6-1 6-3
R-3 Sonchat/Sanchai Ratiwatana (THA) d. Christopher Rungkat/Elbert Sie (INA) 6-2 6-1


Sources
asiantennis.com
jirobkk.com