The Athens Olympics heroine yesterday denied speculation in the local media that she was likely to withdraw from the Asiad. Pawina said in an exclusive interview with The Nation that she was shocked by the rumours and added that the decision to join the national weightlifting squad for the Asian Games had not been made.

"I haven't read any newspaper, but a reporter from Sport Radio interviewed me and asked me questions about my withdrawal," said the 27-year-old, who won the Best Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Award last year.

"In fact, I have never thought about pulling out. I want to go there and win a gold medal for the country. I won only two silver medals in the previous Asian Games in Busan, South Korea."

Pawina sustained a knee injury last year following over-training after a long break. She said she had spoken to the reporter about her chronic injury and the effect it would have on her performance during the qualifiers for the national squad, but never did she say she would withdraw from the team on account of the injury.

Pawina, the IWF (International Weightlifting Federation) Best Female Weightlifter of the Year, said all promising weightlifters were entitled to don the Thai colours in the continental Games if they could set good records.

"My injury is not too severe and I have never thought about withdrawing from the Asiad, one of the most important tournaments I badly want to participate in. However to be fair, I don't think I'm the best at the moment since many young and talented lifters will show up," said Pawina, who became the first woman of the century to shatter world records in three classes - 69kg, 75kg and 63kg.

"It's not I alone who is injured, as there are many others who are on the injured list. So getting a ticket to Doha depends on physical fitness and also the results in qualification," she told The Nation.

Pawina said she would compete under the Si Sa Ket banner in the National King's Cup Weightlifting Championships, which start on April 24 in Si Sa Ket.

"I will certainly take part in the meet. If I were to pull out from the Asian Games, I wouldn't be participating in the national meet," she said. Asked about her prospects in the meet, Pawina said: "I started training only in January, but you never know."

Alitta Tangrungruengkit

The Nation