Thai boxer Chatchai Butdee crashed out in his first bout at the Incheon Games yesterday.
In the men’s flyweight (52kg), Chatchai was knocked down in the first round before losing 3-0 (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) to Suleimenov IIyas of Kazakhstan.
It was another disappointing result for Chatchai at the Asian Games after his first-round exit in Guangzhou four years ago.
"I lost because I was knocked down in the first round," said the 29-year-old.
"I did better in the next two rounds but it was too late."
He said he would continue representing the country and his next two tournaments would be next year’s SEA Games in Singapore and world championships, which are also an Olympic qualifying event.
Chatchai was the second Thai to be eliminated after Donchai Thathi lost on the first day of the boxing tournament on Wednesday.
Today, Saylom Ardee will face an uphill task against South Korea’s Han Soonchul in the second round of the men’s 60kg. Both Saylom and Han booked their places in the second round with unimpressive performances in their opening bouts.
“I have to move faster," said Saylom, who has beaten the South Korean twice.
In the men’s light-heavyweight (81kg), Anavat Thongkrathok meets Kuldep Singh of India for a place in the quarter-finals.
Thailand’s technical chief Somyot Julsen admitted that Saylom and Anavat had tough assignments.
"It will be tough to beat a South Korean boxer on his home soil," he said. "Anavat is powerful but slow."
After two days of boxing, there are seven Thais left in the tournament.
The Thailand Boxing Association expects its fighters to win two gold medals in Incheon.
The Thai boxing squad won only one gold medal in Guangzhou.