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Published on October 2, 2007

Chonnapas, the two-time Asian Games silver medallist, was suffering from an allergy on the day when three of her compatriots bowed out of contention, including Athens Olympic bronze medallist Yaowapa Boorapolchai, who injured her left leg ligaments and withdrew from the event.

Contesting in the women's under-57kg class, Chonnapas opened with a stunning 6-2 win over Venezuelan Leal Nohemar. She beat Brazilian Debora Nunes 2-0 in the second round, crushed Colombian Doris Esmid Patino Marin 7-1 in the third round and stunned the 2005 world champion,  Diana Lopez from the United States, 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

However, South Korean Lim Su-jeong halted the Thai's remarkable run in the semi-finals with a 2-0 win.

But Chonnapas did not let her supporters down in the third-place play-off, brushing off Likeleli Thamae of Lesotho 3-1 to win the bronze.

It was Thailand's lone medal in the September 28-30 meet, and secured Chonnapas a berth at next year's Olympic Games.

Lim later beat Italian Veronica Calabrese in the final.

"It's the greatest moment of my life," Chonnapas said.

Apichat Rawiwat

 The Nation

Manchester