After twelve years, Somjit Jongjohor’s waiting for an Olympic gold medal is over.

On August 23, Somjit won a gold medal as he defeated Cuba’s Andris Laffita Hernandez with 8-2 points in the Beijing Games flyweight final, while his fellow boxer Manus Boonjumnong of the light welterweight class won a silver medal.

Bangkok’s legendary traffic was much alleviated on that day as the residents stayed in to watch the final bouts of the two boxers.

Somjit has beaten the odds and expectations as most people did not believe a 33-year-old Buriram native would be able to defeat the Cuban. But he did, with his meticulously planned tactics and experiences accumulated over the years.

What really was the advantage of Somjit was his calmness. He never for a second lost his concentration, always pulling his opponent into his game so that he could attack him with his accurate strikes, especially his right punches.

Somjit had a hard time accepting his loss four years ago when he was defeated by another Cuban boxer in the round of 16 at Athens Games. The boxing was crying in heartbreak as his high hope for a medal from that event was shattered.

He was confused and distressed to the point that he nearly quit from the national team.

But with a heart stronger than most people, Somjit decided to continue to pursue the lost dream and prepared himself by winning medals from all tournaments, except one, the Olympics.

On August 23, his dream became true as he claimed the elusive gold medal at the Beijing Games. The boxer was seen joyously singing the national anthem on the Workers’ Stadium podium with his gold medal.

“After twelve years of serving the national squad, today was the most successful day in my boxing career. I have been patient. With out such endurance, I would have ended up as an ordinary boxer and never had this day. I have to thank the Thai people who have always supported me and all the kind sponsors too. Today, I have realized my dream,” said the boxer who was in tears.

“This Olympic will be my last and is the finale to my boxing career. I hope my gold medal would allow the Thai people, including those in the three southernmost provinces, to share the happiness with me. I have to thank everyone for their morale support. Thank you very much.”

Somjit will no longer fight but he is planning to become a coach for the younger boxers in the national squad and will somehow get himself involved with the boxing sport as it is what he loves.

For silver medalist Manus, the Ratchaburi native who defied his odds in the consecutive matches only to lose to Diaz Felix of the Dominican Republic in the final bout with 4-12 points, the games may have ended in a disappointment.

But certainly, Manus has become one of the greatest Thai heroes as he is the first Thai athlete to win two medals from the Olympics.

He will likely learn from his previous mistakes and continue to work for a great future as he stated. The Thai fans will always support him.

The two gold and two silver medals may be less than the results from the previous games, but they already made the Thai people very happy. Efforts of all the athletes, including the ones who missed the medals, are appreciated.    
   

News: Siamsport