Thailand’s London disappointment continues
Saylom Ardee (R) of Thailand goes on the offensive against Gani Zhailauov (L) of Kazakhstan during their first round Lightweight (60Kg) match. AFP
By Terry Fredrickson
Thailand's disappointment continued at the London Olympics yesterday with more failures than successes. Most frustrating was boxer Saylom Ardee's controversial loss in his first-round lightweight (60kg) fight. Meanwhile, there were more upsets in swimming and football.
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Thailand’s London disappointment continues
More upsets in swimming, football
Hondurus players rush to congratulate Jerry Bengston after he scored an eighth-minute match-winning goal against Spain. AFP
Adapted from Bangkok Post and agency stories
Thailand's disappointment continued at the London Olympics yesterday with more failures than successes.
Most frustrating was boxer Saylom Ardee's controversial loss to Gani Zhailauov of Kazakhstan in a first-round lightweight (60kg) fight.
The bout finished as a 12-12 draw, but Zhailauov was judged the winner 37-33 using a backup system in which all points given by individual judges are counted.
The result was not the way many at ringside saw the fight. Many spectators believed that the judges had missed a lot of punches by the Thai fighter.
The fight was stopped for a minute in the first round with 50 seconds left after the Khon Kaen fighter, in his second Olympics, bloodied the Kazakh's nose.
It resumed after 30 seconds of medical attention, and Zhailauov was a changed boxer, taking the fight to the bigger Saylom.
Saylom won the first round 5-4, but the fight was tied 8-8 after the second.
Saylom seemed to score at least twice as many punches as the Kazakh in the final round, but the judges scored it even, with Zhailauov getting the decision.
Saylom expressed his frustration at losing out on what he thought was a merited victory over the fifth seed.
"I definitely had an extra point in the final round," said the two-time winner of the King's Cup.
"However, the judges didn't award it. Maybe they only see one side of the ring," he added.
Meanwhile, another medal hopeful skeet shooter Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit failed to live up to expectations.
Sutiya, who finished fifth in the women's skeet at the Beijing Olympics, could not even reach the final stage as she finished 11th.
The 26-year-old said she was disappointed after training hard for a long time.
"I have only myself to blame,"
"I performed badly in the first round."
Sutiya admitted that she felt under pressure and said her opponents did better.
In badminton, Boonsak Ponsana was sent home by China's Chen Long who comfortably beat the Thai 21-12, 21-17 in the men's singles.
The Thai women had a much better day, however.
In the women's singles, Ratchanok Inthanon beat Thilini Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka 21-13, 21-5 in Group M.
The 17-year-old said that she struggled in the match because she felt nervous playing before such a huge crowd.
In the mixed doubles, Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkham beat Cheng Wen Hsing and Chen Hung Ling of Taiwan 21-15, 21-16 in Group D.
In other Olympic competition there was lots of excitement, including some surprises.
France pulled off an upset victory over the United States to claim the men's 4x100 freestyle relay gold medal for the first time.
A pulsating final saw France coming home just ahead of the Americans to claim the gold with Russia finishing third – leaving the mighty Australian team spearheaded by James Magnussen trailing in fourth.
The big story in Olympic football yesterday was the unexpected exit of Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites.
In its first two matches, Spain was embarrassed, humbled and humiliated, first by Japan and yesterday by Honduras.
Ryan Giggs, right, gets a hug from Craig Bellamy after scoring. AFP
An early goal from Honduras's Jerry Bengtson was all that was needed to ensure an early trip home for the Spaniards. Even a win in their last group match again Morocco will not keep them in the competition.
Great Britain avoided the same fate with a 3-1 win over United Arab Emirates.
Captain Ryan Giggs opened the scoring for the hosts and, at 38 years old, became the oldest Olympic football goal scorer.
Rashed Eisa's equaliser caused some anxiety in the crowd but two late goals from substitutes Scott Sinclair and Daniel Sturridge sealed the victory.
There was no upset in women's archery as South Korea won a seventh successive Olympic Games team archery gold on Sunday with a 210-209 win over China.
Victory meant South Korea is the only country to have won the women's title since the event was introduced at the 1988 Games in Seoul.
Olympic basketball began yesterday and, as expected, the US "Dream team" made up of NBA superstars, came out as winners.
The U.S. men started slowly but rallied to defeat France easily, 98-71, at the Olympic Park arena.
The South Korean women’s team celebrates the country’s seventh straight Olympic Archery Gold AFP
French centre Ronny Turiaf, left, challenges Kobe Bryant during the US-French basketball game on Sunday. AFP
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Vocabulary
go on the offensive – go on the attack; making attacking or aggressive moves before an opponent does บุกรุก
disappointment – the feeling of being unhappy because something that you hoped for or expected did not happen or because someone or something was not as good as you expected ความผิดหวัง
upset – to win unexpectedly over an opponent thought to be stronger ชนะโดยไม่คาดฝัน, พลิกล็อก
frustrating – making you feel annoyed and impatient because you are prevented from achieving something or you can’t do anything about something ทำให้โกรธ ทำให้ข้องใจ
controversial – causing disagreement ซึ่งก่อให้เกิดการโต้แย้ง
bout – a boxing or wrestling match การแข่งขัน
draw – a game that ends with both teams or players having the same number of points เสมอกัน
backup – something that can be used when something else has failed or is not adequate สำรอง
individual – relating to or involving a single, separate person or thing แต่ละบุคคล
ringside – the area around the place where a boxing match takes place บริเวณใกล้เวทีมวย
spectator – a person who watches an activity, especially a sports event, without taking part ผู้เข้าชม
bloody – to injure a part of someone's body so that it bleeds ทำให้มีเลือดออก
resume – to begin again after stopping for a period of time เริ่มอีกครั้ง
tied – having the same score ได้แต้มหรือคะแนนเท่ากัน, เสมอกัน
even – equal เท่ากัน
merit – to deserve something ควรได้รับ
seed – a competitor given a place on the list of those expected to win games in a particular competition because of the way they have played in the past ผู้ที่ถูกถูกจัดให้เป็นผู้แข่งขันชั้นนำ
skeet – a sport in which a disc of baked clay (called a clay pigeon) is thrown into the air for people to shoot at
expectations – the belief that something will happen สิ่งที่คาดคิดว่าจะเกิดขึ้นในอนาคต
admit – to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it ยอมรับ
pressure – a worried feeling that you get when you have to deal with a difficult or complicated situation ความกดดัน
opponent – a person or team being competed against in a sports event คู่ต่อสู้
singles – a match played between two people การแข่งขันระหว่างคนสองคน
struggle – to try hard to do something that you find very difficult พยายาม
nervous – anxious about something or afraid of something กระวนกระวาย
upset victory – an unexpected win over an opponent thought to be stronger ชนะโดยไม่คาดฝัน, พลิกล็อก
claim – to win something มีชัยชนะ
relay – an event where something is passed from person to person, each one running/swimming a certain distance การส่งต่อ หรือวิ่งผลัด
dramatic – exciting and impressive ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
pulsating – exciting or excited ทำให้ตะลึงงัน, ทำให้งง
mighty – powerful มีกำลัง, เข้มแข็ง
spearhead – to begin an activity or lead an attack against somebody/something นำหน้า
exit – leaving การออก
favourite – a person or team who is expected to win a competition ผู้แข่งขันที่มีหวังชนะมากที่สุด
embarrassed – feeling ashamed, nervous, worried or uncomfortable รู้สึกอาย
humbled – feeling less important or proud because of something that has been achieved or suffered by someone else ที่อ่อนน้อมถ่อมตน
humiliated – made to feel ashamed รู้สึกเสียเกียรติ
ensure – to make certain that something happens or is done ให้การยืนยัน, รับรอง, ให้ความมั่นใจ
avoid – to prevent something from happening หลีกเลี่ยง
fate – the things that happen to someone/something, especially unpleasant things ชะตากรรม
hosts – a country, city, group, person, etc. which provides the space and other things necessary for a special event เจ้าภาพ
equaliser – (in football) a goal that makes the score of both teams equal
anxiety – an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future ความวิตกกังวล
substitute – a player who replaces another member of his or her team during a match ตัวสำรอง
seal – to make something certain or complete รับรอง, ยืนยัน
congratulate – to praise someone about their success, good luck or happiness on a special occasion แสดงความยินดี
archery – the sport of shooting arrows from a bow การยิงธนู
successive – following immediately one after the other ต่อเนื่องกัน, ตามลำดับ
title – the position of a winner in a sports competition ตำแหน่งแชมป์
rally – to improve and start to play well after playing badly ฟื้นตัว
