Akkarin falls at final hurdle

Akkarin Kitwijarn failed to avenge his defeat at the hands of Lee Dae-hoon of South Korea in the London Olympics two years ago, with the Thai outclassed by the defending champion 18-2 in just two rounds of the men’s under 63kg taekwondo final at the Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium.

The 19-year-old had no answers in a master class delivered by the Olympic silver medallist and two-times World Championships gold-winner, who also beat him this year in the final round of the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan.

After opening a big margin of 16 points, Lee, who looked relaxed throughout the fight, was declared the winner by the referee by the end of the second round on the “Win by Point Gap” rule.

The Thai teenager, 2012 Korea Open champion, had earlier beaten Vietnam’s Chau Ie Huynh 4-1 in the quarter-finals and Taiwan’s Chen Yen Ming 5-2 in the semis.

In the men’s under 68kg, Chetrapee Tangjai went down to Filipino Keith Bejnamin Sembrano 9-12 in the quarter-finals

Thailand have won one taekwondo gold, from Chanatip Sonkham in the women’s under 49kg, and three bronzes, from Nattapat Tantramart in the men’s under-87kg and Panipak Wongpattanakit and Rangsima Nisairom in the women’s under 46kg and under 57kg.

With two days left, Thailand have amassed a total of nine golds and are unlikely to meet the target of 13 set by the Sports Authority of Thailand. However, the country is expected to win two more events from the men’s and women’s sepak takraw regu teams today.

The men’s regu side comprising Pornchai Kaokaew, Sittipong Khamchan and Pattarapong Yupadee spent just 36 minutes in brushing aside long-time rivals Malaysia 21-9 21-8 in the semi-finals at the Bucheon Gymnasium.

Thailand, who went through the group stage undefeated, will play South Korea, who edged past Myanmar 21-11 17-21 21-16. On the women’s side Thailand’s Payom Srihongsa, Wanwisa Jankaen and Masaya Duangsri toppled Indonesia 21-19 21-11 in 36 minutes and will take on South Korea who beat China 19-21 21-12 21-13.

In kabaddi, the Thai women’s team lost to India 28-41 in the semi-final and had to settle for bronze.

In karate, Songvut Muntaen beat Mohammad Nemer Khaled Munten of Jordan 5-3 for the bronze medal in the men’s under 75kg event.

Elsewhere boxer Apichet Saensit had to settle for a bronze medal after suffering a semi-final loss to Uzbekistan’s Israil Madrimov in the welterweight 69kg category. Wuttichai Masuk, the other Thai left in the boxing competition, was due to fight Turkmenistan’s Aziz Bebitov in the last-four bout of the light-welterweight class later yesterday. 

 

Chinese relay team break record

China’s men’s 4x100m relay team broke the Asian record as they raced to gold in Incheon, with Japan second and Hong Kong third.

The Chinese crossed in 37.99 seconds, the first time an Asian relay team has gone below 38 seconds and the third best time in the world this year.

Hong Kong snatched bronze from Thailand in a tight anchor leg on the sixth day of competition at the Asiad Main Stadium.

China made it a relay double with another victory in the women’s 4x100, led by 100m gold medallist and 200m silver medallist Wei Yongli.

There was more long-distance gold for Bahrain’s African imports as Maryam Yusuf Jamal won the 5,000m and Eunice Kirwa the marathon.

 

Malaysia lose appeal

Malaysia promised to hand back the Asian Games gold medal won by wushu champion Tai Cheau Xuen after an appeal against her dope-test expulsion failed yesterday. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Tai’s challenge at a speeded-up hearing held on the sidelines of the Games. 

“We will accept the decision. We are not sore losers. They gave us a fair hearing,” Malaysia’s chef de mission Danyal Balagopal said, adding that the medal would now be handed back. 

“I feel very sad for the girl. I don’t think she had any intention to cheat.” The verdict was given on Tai’s 23rd birthday.”