Thai trio off to winning start at Asian meet
Coaches target four spots at Youth Olympics
>> Three Thai men got off to winning starts at the ASBC Asian Youth Confederation Boxing Championships 2018 at Indoor Stadium, Hua Mark, yesterday.
They are Thitisan Panmod, Noppharat Thakhui and Peerapat Yeasungnoen in the 49kg, 56kg and 69kg divisions respectively.
The event also serves as Asia’s qualifying round f or t he 2018 Youth Olympics.
There are nine Olympic berths in the men’s event and four in the women’s competition at the Bangkok tournament, which ends on Friday.
Thitisan had few problems in his 5-0 win over Sergio Dura of Indonesia.
However, he said he was not happy with his performance.
“My hand speed and footwork were a bit slow and I have to improve in the next fight,” he said.
Noppharat defeated Dechan Namgay of Bhutan 5-0.
The Thai built a considerable lead after three rounds. Namgay tried to throw everything at the Thai but the local fighter was able to fend off his attack.
Peerapat saw off Muhammet Pazzyyev of Turkmenistan 5-0.
Thong Taweekoon, coach of the Thai men’s team, said he was satisfied with the boxers’ performance.
Thong is targeting three Olympic tickets.
Juan Fontanils, the Thai women’s team coach, is eyeing only one Olympic ticket from his squad.
In Singapore, rising Filipino sensation Michael Dasmarinas knocked out his French opponent Karim Guerfi just seconds into the fourth round on Friday to win the vacant International Boxing Organisation bantamweight title.
Dasmarinas, a southpaw, unleashed a powerful left hook to the jaw of Guerfi, sending the French fighter to a hard landing on the canvass as medics rushed in with a stretcher.
Eyes dazed, he tried in vain to get up and then rolled to the side as medics checked his face.