Worapoj Petchkoom beats Italian Jahyn Vittorio Parrinello 12-1

Worapoj Phetkum of Thailand easily sailed into the last eight of Beijing 2008 Olympic boxing in the 54 kg Bantamweight event today, but fellow countrymen Pichai Sayota (Lightweight) and Sailom Adi (Featherweight) were defeated, upsetting the hopes of many Thai fans.


(Photo credit: Murad Sezer/AP)

Worapoj's Profile:
Born: 18 May 1981
Height: 170cm / 5'7"
Weight: 54 kg / 119 lbs

Worapoj, a silver medallist in the 54kg event at the Athens Olympics four years ago, faced Jahyn Vittorio Parrinello from Italy, and easily won on points, by 12-1.

Easily Thailand's most likely boxing medallist, Worapoj next faces a tougher opponent, Yankiel Leon Alarcon from Cuba.

Sailom Adi fighting in the 57kg division, took on Abdelkader Chadi from Algeria, the African Champion in 2007. Sailom started strong and led all four rounds, but the Algerian got the last but important point in the final 10 seconds and beat his tough Thai opponent 7-6.

Pichai Sayota was defeated 10-3 by Jong-sub Baik of South Korea in the 60kg division.