Philippines and Thailand Lead the Way for Southeast Asia in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
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The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is already a momentous event for Filipinos after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz bagged the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal to the sheer joy of Filipinos around the world. Not only did the Olympian bring fierce pride to Filipinos, but she's also helping the Philippines lead the way for Southeast Asia in the Olympics.
The Philippines is currently the highest ranking Southeast Asian country in the Olympic country rankings by medal count, tied with Thailand. Both countries have bagged one gold medal each, which is enough to catapult them to the 21st position. Also sharing the 21st position thanks to solo gold medals are: Ecuador, Hong Kong, Iran, Norway, Uzbekistan, and most notably, Bermuda.
While not a Southeast Asian country, Bermuda is also rejoicing the same way as the Philippines as the small territory also bagged its first-ever gold medal.
Aside from the Philippines and Thailand, Indonesia is the only other Southeast Asian country to bag a medal, as of writing, with one silver medal and one bronze medal. Thailand earned its gold in the women's 49-kg weight class for taekwondo. Meanwhile, Indonesia won a silver in men's weightlifting (61-kg class) and a bronze in women's weightlifting (49-kg class.)
Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Singapore, and Vietnam have not yet earned a medal.
