Taekwondo Association of Thailand advisor Pricha Thotrakul said the Thai squad's best bets to win a medal would be 2004 Olympics bronze medallist Yaowapa Boorapolchai and reigning Asian champion Chatchawal Khaola-or in the women's and men's finweight events.

"Our athletes are second to none in the light and medium weights categories. But we have a size disadvantage in the heavier categories,'' said Pricha, who added that a Herculean task lay ahead for his squad.

"Unlike in some other tournaments, each country will be sending their best teams to Bangkok. These teams are of international level, which means it won't be easy to compete with them,'' added Pricha, who also has medal hopes for 2005 University Games gold medallist Patiwat Thongsalap in the lightweight division, as long as he stays fit.

The 12-member national team have been training in Seongnam, South Korea, under the supervision of coach Choi Young-seok. They will return to Bangkok on September 5 and resume training at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium where the event will take place from September 14-18.

More than 600 taekwondo exponents from 60 nations will contest 12 divisions. The first four days will be for individual competition, while the final day is for the team competition.

Countries with the best results can enter the men's and women's team events, and there will be eight countries for each event. The competition will be based on the knock-out format. Thailand's target in the team events is to make the final eight.

Dr Nat Indrapana, the president of Thailand's taekwondo body, insisted the judging would be transparent as he was asked by the World Taekwondo Federation, of which he is vice-president, to ensure fair play.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation