ABAT chief General Taweep Jantararoj says he is confident of the Thai boxers at Beijing as he consider them the best Olympic team the country has ever had, although he is worried with the effect of weigh loss on light flyweight Amnat Ruenroeng  
 
General Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (ABAT), in a press conference on August 8, said he is confident the eight Thai Olympic boxers, currently at the athlete’s village in Beijing, make up the best boxing squad Thailand has ever had.

The general is satisfied with the overall preparation and the development of the Thai boxing team, although he is concerned with light flyweight fighter Amnat Ruenroeng who became exhausted during a weigh control program.

Asides from Amnat, seven other athletes will also represent Thailand in the boxing competition. Those include flyweight Somjit Jongjohor, bantamweight Worapoj Petchkhoom, featherweight Sailom Adi, lightweight Pichai Sayotha, light welterweight Manus Boonjumnong, welterweight Non Boonjumnong, and middleweight Angkhan Chomphuphuang.

General Taweeb said ABAT has set up a “war room” near the athlete’s village in Beijing which will be funded by team manager Sakchai “Peter” Wongmalasit. The war room will act as a strategic headquarters of the boxing team that plan tactics and analyzes each of the potential opponents.

About seven staff members, led by Boonsak Lorpipat, will be stationed at the war room including a psychologist, a sport scientist, a medical doctor, and a nutritionist. General Taweep, too, is planning to join the war room on August 6.

Head of the staff team Boonsak said he was not worried with the weight control as all of the boxers have less than 9% body fat, which is considered an extremely good condition. However, he said the athletes must maintain the dieting discipline and take care of their health as individuals with such condition tend to have lower immunity and must take vitamins and dietary supplement.

Boonsak also said the boxers must keep out from the rain, which often is acidic and dangerous in Beijing as a result of the local artificial rain enhancement. In addition, the boxers must be aware of the high humidity that could prohibit sweating and obstruct weight loss.

ABAT public relations committee member Supat Trakoonpanitchakit said he has suggested the association to discourage the Thai journalists to call the boxers in Beijing as it would disrupt training and rest. He cited the experience of boxer Somjit who was harassed by reporters’ calls when he was at the Athens Games.