• 
• 

Published on February 1, 2008

Light-welterweight Manus, bantamweight Worapoj Petchkum and middleweight Angkarn Chomphuphoung have a good chance of adding three more spots to the five the Thai team won in the World Championships last October.

After suffering an embarrassment at that championships, where he lost in the preliminary round, the 27-year-old Manus looks determined to prove that he is capable of retaining his gold.

It has been smooth sailing so far as Manus, who also won the gold in the Doha Asian Games, has managed to make his rivals look ordinary with his superior class.

In the semi-finals, he will fight Tubshinbat Byamba of Mongolia, the fighter he defeated en route to his gold win at the Doha Games.

Unlike Manus, Athens silver medallist Worapoj faces a stern examination in the shape of Filipino fighter Joan Tipon, who defeated the Thai on his way to success in Doha.

However, Worapoj could draw some comfort from the fact that he would get another chance to claim his Olympic berth should he fail to beat the Filipino since there are three qualifying spots up for grabs in the bantamweight division.

Wushu-exponent-turned-boxer Angkarn Angkarn will fancy his chances against South Korea's Cho Deok-jin as he tries to gain his maiden Olympic qualification.

Angkarn's run has been remarkable considering that it is the first time he has boxed in the middleweight category following the withdrawal of Suriya Prasarthinpimai.

The semi-final clashes will take place at the gymnasium of the Dhurakij Pundit University from 3pm.

The Nation