Weightlifting chief vows big Thai surprise at Olympics in Rio
THAILAND’S weightlifting chief has vowed a surprise at the Rio Olympic Games
Weightlifting offers strong medal prospects for Thailand, with 12 athletes currently in training and vying for nine places (four women and five men) for the trip to Brazil on July 18. The 12 contenders include 2012 Olympic silver medallist Pimsiri Sirikaew, and Siripuch (formerly known as Rattikan) Gulnoi, who finished fourth at the last Games but was bumped up to the bronze-medal place this year after Ukraine’s Yuliya Kalina failed a doping test.
Amateur Weightlifting Association president Maj-General Intarat Yodbangtoey was brimming with confidence at yesterday’s press conference, predicting that six Thai weightlifters would finish in the top six in Rio and produce at least one medal among them.
“Get up early in the morning on August 7 as there will be a surprise. All I can say is that there is one category in which we fear no one in the world,” Intarat said, without elaborating.
According to the Rio Games programme, the women’s 48kg competition will take place at the time Intarat mentioned – August 6 Brazil time – early the following morning in Thailand. Sopita Thanasan and Panida Khamsri, who also competed in the 2012 Games but failed to finish the clean and jerk event, are currently favourites to make the team in this category.
Intarat also said that his association was determined to restore pride after failing to strike gold at the London Olympics four years ago, following gold-medal-winning efforts at the Athens and Beijing Games.
He said would be more specific about other Thai medal hopes when the line-up was finalised on August 4.
Intarat also revealed that Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus could be banned from the weightlifting in Rio over doping issues, which would create more opportunities for Thailand. The International Olympic Committee will make a decision on the matter by July 17.
The TAWA chief added that Thai athletes would be restricted in their use of mobile phones in Rio so as to maintain discipline and focus. The weightlifting team is due to leave for the Games on either July 27 or 31, dates Intarat believe are auspicious for his charges’ chances in Rio.
