Thai boxer Angkarn Chomphuphuang makes his Olympic debut with a win

Thailand's Angkarn Chomphuphuang performs the Thai wai after his victory over South Korea's DeokJin Cho during their Men's Middleweight (75 kg) Round of 32 boxing bout of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 9, 2008. Angkarn won on points at 9:3.



Angkarn is going to face Vijendar Kumar of India at Round of 16 bout on August 16, 2008. Vijendar Kumar beat Gambian Badou Jack with a score of 13:2.

Angkarn's Profile:
Born: 20 Jan 1981
Height: 1.75 m / 5'9"
Weight: 75 kg / 165 lbs

Angkarn, who makes his Olympic debut in Beijing, upset Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev, a gold medalist at Athens, in the King's Cup, Thailand's premier amateur boxing tournament, earlier this year.

Thailand has a knack of producing promising boxers and one of the best of the new bunch is middleweight Angkarn Chomphuphuang.

Thai boxers began appearing on the radar when Somluck Kamsing won gold in Atlanta Olympics in 1996. It was not only the country's first boxing gold but also its first ever Olympic gold in any sport. Vijarn Pholrit repeated the feat in Sydney Olympics 2000, and Manus clinched the gold in Athens Olympics 2004.

Thailand has one of its strongest boxing teams ever, led by defending light-welterweight champion Manus Boonjumnong, flyweight Somjit Jongjorhor, and bantamweight Worapoj Petchkoom.

There will be 8 Thai boxers in Beijing Olympics 2008:

1. Light-flyweight: Amnat Ruenroeng
2. Flyweight: Somjit Jongjohor
3. Bantamweight: Worapoj Petchkoom
4. Featherweight: Sailom Adi
5. Lightweight: Pichai Sayotha
6. Light-welterweight: Manus Boonjumnong
7. Welterweight: Non Boonjumnong
8. Middleweight: Angkhan Chomphuphuang

According to the big bosses of the Thai amateur boxing, almost all the eight Thai boxers are capable of finishing on the podium. The Beijing tournament is wide open as powerhouses Cuba, who grabbed five golds in Athens, have been hit by defections and have a relatively inexperienced squad. Manus Boonjumnong of Thailand will be defending his light welterweight title in Beijing.

Defending light-welterweight champion Manus, Somjit and Non are the team's best prospects, according to Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (Abat). "They are experienced and skillful and their opponents look beatable," he said.

Manus Boonjumnong, 28 was the only Thai boxer who won gold in the 2004 Athens Olympics, while Somjit crashed out in the round of 16. Manus is still regarded as Thailand's best amateur boxer but his problem is his fitness. If he is fully fit, he could become the first Thai athlete to win two Olympic gold medals.

According to the bookies, Manus is second ranked in the light-welterweight division with Kazakhstan's Serik Sapiyev, the world champion in 2005 and 2007, the favorite. Manus will be in action on August 14 against Japan's Masatsugu Kawachi, the bronze medalist at the 2007 World Championships.

It will be the first Olympics for Non Boonjumnong, who is Manus' younger brother. Non, who won the silver medal at the 2007 World Championships, is a contender for gold at the Beijing Olympics. His first fight will be against Egyptian Hosam Abdin on August 14 after he received a bye in the first round.