Bangkok--3 Aug--Sports Authority of Thailand
Muaythai competition in the 1st Asian Martial Arts Games will take place from August 2-7, 2009 at Nimitbutr Indoor Building National Stadium. However, the meeting of team managers and the draw of Muaythai athletes were conducted at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark on August 1, 2009.
Dr. Sakchai Tapsuwan, president of the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand, disclosed after the meeting of the team managers and the draw of Muaythai athletes were conducted at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark on August 1, 2009 that “There is a total 19 nations with 100 athletes to compete in the game. Although China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Korea have high possibility to win the game, Thailand is also expected to win 16 gold medals. But there is no any female athlete in light welter weight (63.5 kg.) competing in this game, so there are only 15 gold medals left to fight for.
However, Thai fighters are lucky as they could advance to the semi-final round after the draw which means Thailand is assured to win bronze medals in 5 divisions. In the female division, there are 4 female athletes, including Molthira Vatanapackdee from light fly weight division (48 kg.), Kornnika Nuanboriboon from fly weight division (51 kg.), Prakaidao Pramari from bantamweight division (54 kg.) and Sararat Kongsawang from feather weight (57 kg.). And the only one male athlete is Kittisak Boonsemsen from feather weight division (57 kg.).
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