As a new-coming taekwondo star of Thailand Chutchawal Khawlaor won a series of medals during the past years. Now, he sets to realize another dream for him and the country during next month's Olympics in Beijing.
"It's a dream to come true. I had dreamed of going to the Olympics since I joined the national team in 2003," Chutchawal, who will compete in the under-59kg event, was quoted by the Daily Xpress on Tuesday as saying.
At the 2004 Athens Games, thus new star of Thailand Yaowapa Boorapolchai made a big impact as the first athlete from this country to win an Olympic medal in the discipline.
Four years down the road, three fighters have been following in her footsteps, and Chutchawal, regarded as the top gold medal hopeful of the taekwondo association, is determined to go for gold rather than just the bronze captured by Yaowapa in Athens.
He has won seven major competitions including the 2003 Asian Junior Championships in Vietnam, 2005 World University Taekwondo Championships in Valencia, Spain, the 2006 Asian Championships in Bangkok, last year's South East Asia Games in Nakhon Ratchasima and the 2007 Bangkok Universiade.
"I'm now ready for the Games. Training under Korean coach Choi Yeong Suk is the toughest I've ever had. Choi has devoted his entire time to coaching the three of us...I will give it my best shot," he added.
(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2008)