Fighters still need to improve - Taweep
KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT
The Thai amateur boxing chief is cautious about his fighters' prospects at the Olympics.
Boxing is considered Thailand's best hope of glory as the country's sporting bosses believe the boxing team should win at least one gold in Beijing.
However, Gen Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (Abat), says although his boxers had good performance in their final two warm-up tournaments recently there is still room for improvement.
They need to improve their tactics and fitness if they are to win gold in Beijing, Gen Taweep said.
The Thai boxers are training in Vietnam to avoid distractions after fighting in tournaments in France and Taiwan last month.
Taweep says his fighters learned a lot from the two events particularly the President's Cup in Taiwan.
"In France, we experienced African and European styles. They were little known to us but they are strong," Gen Taweep said.
As for the President's Cup, it was very competitive because more than 70% of the participants qualified for the Beijing Games, he said.
Six Thai boxers competed in the Taiwan tournament. Four reached the finals but only flyweight Somjit Jongjohor won gold.
Bantamweight Worapoj Petchkoom, lightweight Pichai Sayotha and middleweight Angkhan Chomphuphuang lost in the finals, while brothers light-welterweight Manus and welterweight Non Boonjumnong took bronze.
The other two Thai Olympians, light-flyweight Amnat Ruenrueng and featherweight Sailom Adi did not take part in the event because of weight problems.
Taweep says the results in Taiwan do not reflect his team's potential as some of them were not in good shape after competing in the France tournament.
"In Taiwan, most of them could only fight 60-70% of their potential," he said.
While the overall results in Taiwan were acceptable, the Abat president admits his team still have a lot of work to do in the remaining two months mainly on their fitness and tactics.
Most opponents in the Taiwan tournament knew how to handle the Thai boxers after they studied their fights from many international events, Taweep says.
"Some of our tactics are no longer effective. Our opponents know how we fight and can take us on competitively," he said.
"We have to look for new tactics."
Thailand's coaches led by Kammanit Narirak are working closely with the Abat to find a solution.
He says Non, formerly Manon, must learn how to defend or he will not become successful at the highest level.
"Non has an attacking mindset. He knows only how to attack but not defend. He often has a tough time when he faces an opponent whose style does not suit his game," Taweep said.
Taweep says a number of his fighters have fitness problems particularly Manus who will defend his title in Beijing.
"Manus is still suffering a wrist injury. He is also not fully fit," he said.
"He could end up like Somluck Kamsing if he is not in good shape."
Somluck won Thailand's first-ever Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Because he was not fit, he was hammered in the quarter-finals in Sydney and lost in the first round in Athens.The boxing tournament in Beijing is more competitive now that a large number of boxers are more powerful and aggressive, according to Taweep.
"To win gold, boxers must be strong and injury free," he said.
If the Thai boxers improve their tactics and fitness, Taweep believes they will win at least one gold in Beijing.
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KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT
The Thai amateur boxing chief is cautious about his fighters' prospects at the Olympics.
Boxing is considered Thailand's best hope of glory as the country's sporting bosses believe the boxing team should win at least one gold in Beijing.
However, Gen Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (Abat), says although his boxers had good performance in their final two warm-up tournaments recently there is still room for improvement.
They need to improve their tactics and fitness if they are to win gold in Beijing, Gen Taweep said.
The Thai boxers are training in Vietnam to avoid distractions after fighting in tournaments in France and Taiwan last month.
Taweep says his fighters learned a lot from the two events particularly the President's Cup in Taiwan.
"In France, we experienced African and European styles. They were little known to us but they are strong," Gen Taweep said.
As for the President's Cup, it was very competitive because more than 70% of the participants qualified for the Beijing Games, he said.
Six Thai boxers competed in the Taiwan tournament. Four reached the finals but only flyweight Somjit Jongjohor won gold.
Bantamweight Worapoj Petchkoom, lightweight Pichai Sayotha and middleweight Angkhan Chomphuphuang lost in the finals, while brothers light-welterweight Manus and welterweight Non Boonjumnong took bronze.
The other two Thai Olympians, light-flyweight Amnat Ruenrueng and featherweight Sailom Adi did not take part in the event because of weight problems.
Taweep says the results in Taiwan do not reflect his team's potential as some of them were not in good shape after competing in the France tournament.
"In Taiwan, most of them could only fight 60-70% of their potential," he said.
While the overall results in Taiwan were acceptable, the Abat president admits his team still have a lot of work to do in the remaining two months mainly on their fitness and tactics.
Most opponents in the Taiwan tournament knew how to handle the Thai boxers after they studied their fights from many international events, Taweep says.
"Some of our tactics are no longer effective. Our opponents know how we fight and can take us on competitively," he said.
"We have to look for new tactics."
Thailand's coaches led by Kammanit Narirak are working closely with the Abat to find a solution.
He says Non, formerly Manon, must learn how to defend or he will not become successful at the highest level.
"Non has an attacking mindset. He knows only how to attack but not defend. He often has a tough time when he faces an opponent whose style does not suit his game," Taweep said.
Taweep says a number of his fighters have fitness problems particularly Manus who will defend his title in Beijing.
"Manus is still suffering a wrist injury. He is also not fully fit," he said.
"He could end up like Somluck Kamsing if he is not in good shape."
Somluck won Thailand's first-ever Olympic gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Because he was not fit, he was hammered in the quarter-finals in Sydney and lost in the first round in Athens.The boxing tournament in Beijing is more competitive now that a large number of boxers are more powerful and aggressive, according to Taweep.
"To win gold, boxers must be strong and injury free," he said.
If the Thai boxers improve their tactics and fitness, Taweep believes they will win at least one gold in Beijing.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
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