BANGKOK -- Thailand's national taekwondo team is aiming for three out of the maximum four berths at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, local media reported Saturday, quoting a Thai senior offcial for the sport.
At the first qualification leg in Manchester, Britain that closed on September 30, Thailand has obtained only one berth for next year's Beijing Games, with Chonnapas Preamwaew's bronze.
There remains three more places for Thailand to grab at next month's Vietnam leg for the Asian region, but Taekwondo Association of Thailand (TAT) senior official Preecha Tortakul believed that to get two more berths would be regarded as a great success in light of fierce competition.
"In Vietnam, it will also be very tough," Preecha was quoted by news paper Bangkok Post as saying, "Many countries including Iran and Jordan will be fielding strong competitors so we shall be satisfied if we get two more places."
The Vietnam leg will provide twenty-four berths for the Beijing Games.
Another bad news for the Thai team is that both Chutchawal Khaolaor (men's 58kg) and Yaowapa Burapolchai (women's 49kg) are suffering injuries.
"The two have taken an MRI scan. On Monday, TAT will talk with them and and the doctor to see if they are fit enough to go to Vietnam," said Preecha.
If they are not able to compete, Dech Sutthikulkarn is likely to replace Chatchawal. Kamonrat Phokhanawat and Mae-nam Chirdkiatsak have been tipped to substitute for Yaowapa.
In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Thailand had four representatives and Yaowapa won Thailand's first Olympic bronze medal in taekwondo.
