Bangkok--5 Aug--Sports Authority of Thailand
Press Center Branch Committee
under the Public Relations Committee for the 1st Asian
Martial Arts Games 2009
[TAEKWONDO] Thailand ended the penultimate day of the taekwondo competition with a single bronze medal after the Thai couple both suffered a similar fate stumbling at the hurdles of their Filipino foes in the 1st Asian Martial Arts Games at Indoor Stadium Hua Mark yesterday (4 August 2009).
It was surprising that both Thai Nattapong Tewawetchapong and Natthaya Sangsasitorn, whose names are also alike, lost to the Filipinos in the same score line of 3-2 on the fourth day of the discipline with four gold medals up for grabs.
In the men’s bantamweight class, Nattapong, who outclassed Xaysavanh Chanthalangsy from Laos 7-0 in the quarter-finals, was edged out by the Philippines’ Jeffrey Figueroa in the semi-final.
“Unfortunately, I was trailing 0-4 points from the first round. It prompted me to step up a gear to attack the Filipino more and it went on according to the plan of my rival. I lost several important chances. The Filipino has good technical attacking as he was always waiting for a chance of counter-attack. I’m disappointed at the results and I will try to improve my performance,” said Nattapong, who won a silver medal at the 2005 Asian Games in Doha.
In the women’s event, compatriot Natthaya, who advanced into the quarter-finals with a slim 0- minus 1 victory over Cosette Basbous of Libya, crashed out in the quarter-finals falling to Karla Jane Alava of Philippines.
“We have to admit that this squad from the Philippines is really tough. We have to improve several weak points of our athletes as we can not underestimate them in the SEA Games, which will be held in Laos, later this year,” said Pimol Srivikorn, President of The Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT).
Thailand is only fielding Nacha Punthong to contend in the men’s featherweight division on the final day of the sports competition, where four gold medals are on offer.
Main Press Center: MPC - 18
200— bed Building, the Sports Authority of Thailand, Hua Mark, Bangkok, Thailand
Tel. 02-369-4030 — 33 Fax 02-369-1567 — 69