Taekwondo team return in triumph
[TAEKWONDO] The Thai taekwondo team returned home yesterday in a blaze of glory after winning four medals, including two gold, to finish third overall at the World University Championships in Valencia, Spain.
Nacha Punthong won the first gold medal for Thailand in the men's bantamweight division and the second gold came from Chatchawal Khawla-or in the men's finweight category. In the women's division, Thailand's Maenam Cherd-kiartsak added a silver medal in the finweight category and Rapatkorn Prasopsuk won a bronze medal in the heavyweight division. "We got more than we expected. We sent only seven fighters but won third place, while the team which finished fifth fielded a full team of 16," said Pimol Sriwikorn, secretary-general of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT). Pimol added that the Thai squad will be better at the World Championships at home in September as well as the Asian Games in Doha later this year. "If we field more competitors in at least 12 categories, the overall runners-up is not out of reach," he said. Gold medallist at both the World Championships and Asian Games will receive Bt2 million, a silver medallist Bt1 million and a bronze medal winner Bt500,000.
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