The Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (ABAT) now has locked three boxers of the total eight who will contest in the upcoming Beijing Olympics as the team's highest hopes.
They are light-welterweight Manus Boonjumnong, flyweight Somjit Jongjohor and welterweight Non Boonjumnong.
Taweep Jantararoj, president of the ABAT, was quoted by local media on Wednesday that he has categorized all the eight boxers into three groups based on their chances. And among them, the trio were experienced and skilful and their opponents were beatable.
Manus was the only Thai boxer who won gold in the 2004 Athens Olympics, while Somjit crashed out in the round of 16. It will be the first Olympics for Non, who is Manus' younger brother.
In the second group are light-flyweight Amnat Ruenroeng, bantam-weight Worapoj Petchkhoom and middleweight Angkhan Chomphuphuang, Taweep said.
Worapoj, who won silver in Athens, has not yet reached his own standard, while Amnat and Angkhan could become nervous in their Olympic debut.
The outside chances are featherweight Sailom Adi and lightweight Pichai Sayotha.
Taweep said their prospects would become clearer after the draw was made.
Boxing is Thailand's strongest sport at the Olympics, with its pugilists responsible for 11 of the Kingdom's 17 medals to date, three of which were gold.
(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2008)