WANCHAI RUJAWONGSANTI
Despite winning three SEA Games gold medals, javelin thrower Buoban Pamang was still relatively unknown in her own country because the discipline is unpopular in Thailand.However, the Chiang Rai native finally became a household name when she defied all the odds to win gold at the 2006 Asian Games beating hot favourite Ma Ning of China.
She recorded her personal best of 61.31m to win the biggest prize of her career.
Only a few Thai journalists witnessed her achievement as others preferred to watch a football match.
Many of them did not even know that she was competing.
Last year, she set her new personal best of 61.4m on her way to winning gold at the World University Games in Bangkok.
She managed only 55.97m at the 2007 SEA Games but the attempt was good enough to win her another gold in the biennial event.
The 24-year-old Air Force officer has qualified for the 2008 Olympics but does not have high hopes of taking home a medal. She is realistic and has set her sights on reaching the final round in Beijing.
"I have never dreamed of winning an Olympic medal because I know it is not possible and just to compete there is okay for me," she said after winning the Universiade title.
The Chiang Rai native is training in Uzbekistan under the watchful eye of her coach, Uzbek Sergey Voynov.
"After two months there, I believe I will improve my technique," she said before leaving Bangkok earlier this month.
With the country's high nutrition food, she hopes that she will become stronger and have more energy for the Olympics.
She will also compete in a couple of tournaments in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan both of which are strong in field events.
Before she left for Uzbekistan, she had not trained for two months while she was in military training. The Uzbekistan stint is a good chance for her to get rid of rust.
"I will train as hard as I can to improve my record," Buoban said.
"I want to reach the final round in Beijing."
To reach the goal, she believes she has to throw at least 63m which is a couple of metres longer than her personal best.
With guidance from Voynov, the 1998 Asian Games champion in Bangkok, Buoban has become better.
As her name means "blooming lotus", Buoban may bloom in Beijing. She was the surprise winner at the 2006 Asian Games, who knows she may be able to pull off another surprise in Beijing.
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Despite winning three SEA Games gold medals, javelin thrower Buoban Pamang was still relatively unknown in her own country because the discipline is unpopular in Thailand.However, the Chiang Rai native finally became a household name when she defied all the odds to win gold at the 2006 Asian Games beating hot favourite Ma Ning of China.
She recorded her personal best of 61.31m to win the biggest prize of her career.
Only a few Thai journalists witnessed her achievement as others preferred to watch a football match.
Many of them did not even know that she was competing.
Last year, she set her new personal best of 61.4m on her way to winning gold at the World University Games in Bangkok.
She managed only 55.97m at the 2007 SEA Games but the attempt was good enough to win her another gold in the biennial event.
The 24-year-old Air Force officer has qualified for the 2008 Olympics but does not have high hopes of taking home a medal. She is realistic and has set her sights on reaching the final round in Beijing.
"I have never dreamed of winning an Olympic medal because I know it is not possible and just to compete there is okay for me," she said after winning the Universiade title.
The Chiang Rai native is training in Uzbekistan under the watchful eye of her coach, Uzbek Sergey Voynov.
"After two months there, I believe I will improve my technique," she said before leaving Bangkok earlier this month.
With the country's high nutrition food, she hopes that she will become stronger and have more energy for the Olympics.
She will also compete in a couple of tournaments in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan both of which are strong in field events.
Before she left for Uzbekistan, she had not trained for two months while she was in military training. The Uzbekistan stint is a good chance for her to get rid of rust.
"I will train as hard as I can to improve my record," Buoban said.
"I want to reach the final round in Beijing."
To reach the goal, she believes she has to throw at least 63m which is a couple of metres longer than her personal best.
With guidance from Voynov, the 1998 Asian Games champion in Bangkok, Buoban has become better.
As her name means "blooming lotus", Buoban may bloom in Beijing. She was the surprise winner at the 2006 Asian Games, who knows she may be able to pull off another surprise in Beijing.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
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