Thailand claimed a world political and athletic record for Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai today as the Thai leader helped carry the Asian Games flame to the opening ceremony.

The 60-year-old Chuan, a jogger and soccer player, carried the torch 300 metres before handing it over to Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabar, president of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

``We think it is the best time by any Prime Minister anywhere in the world,'' joked a close aide after Chuan, clad in a sparkling white tracksuit, briskly completed his opening leg surrounded by police, photographers, cameramen and aides.

The badminton soap opera

A Soap opera build-up staring a lovesick Mia Audina, a pregnant former Olympic champion Susi Susanti and drug-tained Sigit Budiarto has hindered badminton-crazy Indonesia's bid for Asian Games glory.

Audina, the 19-year-old heroine for Indonesia in past Uber Cup victories and their main hope for singles gold in Bangkok, had to spend lonely nights intraining camp after her singer boyfriend was ejected by officials.

Susanti, who won the country's first gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics pulled out of her swansong appearance here after announcing she and husband Allan Budi Kusuma, also a gold medallist in 1992, were expecting their first child.

And men's doubles World Champion Budiarto was forced to miss the Games after being banned for a year by International Badminton Federation for failing a drug test.

Audina and her boyfriend have been inseperable since they met in a church in the mid 1990s but his presence in the training camp was said to be affecting morale and he was asked to leave in August.

``I am going to fall in line,'' Audina said after admitting she had been warned after going missing from the training camp for one night without permission. World number four Audina, who became an overnight sensation in Indonesia after winning the deciding rubber in the 1994 Uber Cup team final against China, won her home open last month but will haveto reach Susanti-like peaks to topple world number one Ye Zhaoying of China.

Royal entry for young Indian yachtsman

The youngest Indian athlete at the Asian Games owes his presence in Bangkok to the King of Thailand. Arjun Pradipak, 17, who will take part in the Moth Class event at the Games regatta, may not have made the trip but for the keen interest shown in the sport by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

It was at the king's insistence that the yatching events were increased from the seven held at the Hiroshima Asiad four years ago to 16 here.

Pradipak received a wildcard entry from the Yatching Association of Thailand after an impressive performance at an invitation regatta here three months ago.

``They told me I could take part in the Games provided I received clearance from the Indian Olympic Association,'' Pradipak said.

``Obviously the King's interest in yachting helped. I believe he sailed across the Gulf of Thailand in 14 hours some years back.''