• 
• 

Published on August 13, 2007

Thailand's Dech Sutthikunkarn had a sad swansong to his World University Games career after he went down to South Korea's Lim In Mook 5-1 in the men's flyweight nail-biting final yesterday. (August 12)

Dech looked as though he was heading toward a glorious ending to his last appearance in the Universiade, given that his age will be over the limit for the next Games, however, Lim had a different idea.

Facing the relatively low-profile Korean, the 26-year-old Dech might have felt confident that he could leave the stage on a high note. Unfortunately, whatever he imagined, it never turned into reality as Lim proved too strong for him.

The Thai was simply helpless in the face of swift kicks from his opponent, who was well on top throughout the fight. Dech's solitary point came from his countering side-kick in the last seconds in the first round.

"The Korean took the early lead, prompting me to attack as I wanted to claw back. That left me vulnerable to the counter-attack," said Dech, who clinched bronze at the last year's World Cup Championships in Madrid.

"I'm really disappointed to miss out on my last chance to win a gold medal in the Games. I will get back to training and I hope I will not feel sorry for myself again in the SEA Games at the end of this year," he added.

Another Thai fighter Nacha Punthong was also on court in the men's bantamweight final, but could not do better than his compatriot, falling to South Korea's Kim Yong-min.

Countrywoman Laksami Youmankong, who claimed a bronze medal at the previous edition in Turkey 2005, went down to American Jesika Torres 5-2 in the women's bantamweight quarter-finals.

In tennis, local hopefuls Danai Udomchoke, Suchanan Viratprasert and Nudnida Luangnam all won their third-round matches at the LTAT National Tennis Centre .

Meanwhile, British sprinter Simeon Williamson had to prove he was the fastest man at the Games by winning the 100 metres not once - but twice.

The race was re-run yesterday following complaints that Williamson had jumped the gun when he finished first on the previous day.

Electronic equipment failed to alert runners to the false start, so judges ordered the race to be held again 24 hours later.

Williamson proved that he was the rightful owner of the gold medal by leading from the gun to clock a time of 10.22 seconds - faster than his earlier "win".

The finishing positions were the same as in the original final with Zhang Peimeng of China in second and Canada's Neville Wright in third.

Williamson, 21, held his finger to his lips as he crossed the line to silence doubters who thought he could not repeat his performance.

Russia remained at the head of the overall medals table after being on target again in the shooting, picking up four golds yesterday. Ukraine mounted a charge up the table by harvesting four artistic gymnastics gold, plus one in the fencing and another with Klochkova's swimming success.

Somporn Suphop

The Nation

Pathum Thani