Yaowapa, better known as View, had competed in the flyweight (52kg) class to win a silver medal in the World University Games in Izmir, Turkey, last year. However, the 21-year-old was told by national head coach Choi Young-seok to switch to pinweight (47kgs).

The Korean coach felt her opponents always held a height advantage over the diminutive Yaowapa in major competitions including the Izmir meet, where Yaowapa lost to a taller rival in the final.  With less body weight and greater experience, Choi believes that Yaowapa stands a better chance of beating rivals in the pinweight class.

Yaowapa is now on a diet to bring her weight further down. "Now I weigh 48 kilograms and have to shed one more kilo. The diet has left me extremely exhausted," she said.

 Whether Yaowapa will make it to the national team in the pinweight division remains to be seen.