SPORTS> Games News
Former Thai Wushu champion advances in Doha Asiad boxing
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-12-07 09:16

After two rounds of winning on the ring at the Doha Asiad, a former Wushu champion from Thailand stepped further toward a boxing gold here on Wednesday.

The boxer Angkarn Chomphuphuang, who won a Wushu gold at Busan Asiad four years ago, grabbed a stoppage win against his Philippine opponent Joven Frances to make the quarter-finals of boxing tournament.

Failing to defend his blows, Frances had took four standing count of eight by the end of the third bout and was then announced the loss.

Frances admitted that his Thai rival was really good, fast and strong who didn't seem moved or bothered by his shots.

"I felt a little pressure because it is my second fight, but my coach helped me recover and I will try to do my best to get a medal," said Chomphuphuang. He said that he had to gave up Wushu two years ago when he wanted to be a soldier.

"They didn't process my application in time, so I just gave up my sport to start boxing and soon got a job in the Thai air force, " said the former Wushu champion.

Meanwhile, Chinese boxer Anti Silamu grabbed a win from an Indian boxer while his compatriot Zhang Xiaoping lost to Djakhon Kurbanov of Uzbekistan.

Silamu bombarded his Indian rival Singh Dibag with combination of hooks and uppercut and the contest had to be halted with Silamu leading 28-8 in the second bout.

Aliasker Bashirov from Turkmenistan, the 2005 Asian champion, also saw a stoppage win against Pakistani Muhammad Baloch on the ring with a 22-2 lead in the third bout.