KAZAKHSTAN’S Bakhyet Sarsekbayev, right, lands a right on the face of Angkhan Chomphuphuang during the gold medal bout of the welterweight division yesterday.

In both cases, the referee stopped the contests in the second round because of the huge points difference.

The defeat was particularly devastating for Angkhan, who wanted to achieve the unique honour of becoming the first and the only Thai to win Asian Games gold medals in two different disciplines - boxing and wushu.

The 25-year-old won the 65kg wushu gold at the 2002 Busan Games before deciding to quit the sport and switch to boxing, which fitted in better with his job in the Royal Thai Air Force.

Kazakhstan's Bakhyet Sarsekbayev, a gold medallist in the Asian Championships in Ho Chi Minh last year and a bronze medallist in Busan, entered the ring with a clear-cut plan. Angkhan looked clueless as the Kazakh's powerful straight punches landed everywhere. Sarsekbayev led 12-5 in the first round.

Angkhan counter-attacked in the second round but to no avail. His much stronger rival exploded with left-right combinations and stingy hooks to beat the Thai fighter 28-8 with just 12 seconds remaining.

"I really wanted to get a gold medal. I tried my best but my inexperience showed in the fight. I am quite upset. Now I will try my luck in the Olympic Games," Angkhan said.

It was a similar script in the much-anticipated contest between Suban and China's Zou Shiming in the men's light flyweight 48kg division. Soon it became a one-way battle as the stronger Chinese, who won a gold medal in the World Championships in Mianyang, China, last year and a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics, proved a cut above the Thai fighter.

Zou opened with a flurry of hard punches in the first round, taking advantage of the rival's low-guard. The Chinese sped to an 8-1 lead, thanks largely to his powerful hooks and dazzling left-right combinations to the face of Suban.

Zou showed he was faster and smarter, landing straight punches to the Thai's head before sending him to the canvas with a powerful right hook. The hard-hitting Zou led 10-1 after the first round.

Suban could not halt the onslaught in the second round as Zou unleashed a series of accurate shots to the face and body of the Thai challenger. Suban tried in vain to hit back, but the Chinese just continued his dominant form with insurmountable defence.

With just 21 seconds remaining in the second round, Zou widened the gap to 20-1 and needed only one more point to end the one-sided battle. A devastating straight right awarded the Chinese the crucial point. The final bell was rung and Uzbekistan's referee Sadir Shamahsudov stepped in to stop the contest, raising Zou's arm as the winner.

"I had no confidence. I thought I could go the distance and earn a gold medal. But that was not to be," Suban said after the match.

"Zou was very fast. When I punched him, he found a way to punch me back. He is a very strong boxer. I did my best and I'm quite satisfied with my performance. I'm proud to have won three Asian Games medals. I always wanted to win a gold medal but my rival proved very strong. In all sports, there is a winner and there is a loser," he said.

Suban is likely to hang up his gloves after his defeat. "I will see how my health is and then decide whether to continue boxing," he said.

Preechachan     Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

Doha