Two weeks ago Yaowapa, one of Thailand's big hopes in the event, suffered a cut between her toes, similar to an accident the Asian champion had before the 2004 Olympics. Yaowapa and her team-mates now are training intensively in Song-nam, South Korea. Somsri, Yaowapa's mother, said her daughter will be fit for the competition.

"After training for only five days, she has lost four kilograms in weight," she said. "She is fine and ready to battle against all fighters. As for her injury, she has avoided using her injured left foot and thinks it will be completely healed before the event."

The team is training three times a day under Thai team coach Choi Young-seok, with training starting from 6am every day.