Thai champs vie in Olympic elims here

Thailand is parading the same team which copped overall honors in the recent Vietnam SEA Games when it sees action in the 22nd Asian Boxing First Olympic qualifying tournament set Jan. 10-18 at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum.

They are Suban Pannon, Somjit Jonhjohor, Chotipat Wongprates, Sutthisak Samaksaman, Pichai Sayota, Manus Boonjumnong, Manon Boonjumnong, Somchai Chilum and Pornchai Thongburan.

Their participation promises a fierce fight among 25 countries vying for the 24 slots for the 2004 Olympic boxing competitions in Athens.

Also confirming their stint in the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Accel, Revicon and Pacific Heights, are the national teams of Pakistan and the two Koreas.

Iraq, still in the process of reconstruction after a long bloody war, and Iran, still reeling from the tragedy of an earthquake, have also confirmed their participation, making the Puerto Princesa bash a war zone for two countries who had been on a collision course in the 80s.

Comprising the Iraq delegation are Najah Salah, Majid Gaitan, Jassim Meshali, Imad Saeed, Wisam Intisar, Zuhair Kudhair, Fajah Hassan, Ahmed Khalil and Mohd Ghalib plus an international referee, interpreters and officials of the Iraqi Boxing Federation.

Bannering Iran are Saeed Ghorbanzadeh, Mojtaba Faraji, Akbar Ahadi, Morteza Yaghobloo, Mohammad Asheri, Reza Ghesemi, Homayoon Armiri, Hosein Hajikani and Mohammad Reza Nooshmesheri.

Manny Lopez, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, said he wlecomed the presence of Iraq, which is sending its first delegation of boxers abroad after many years it froze its boxing program because of the war.

Lopez said he is also waiting for the confirmation of Afghanistan and East Timor.

Just like Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor are still to recover from the wounds of conflicts which cost thousands of lives and destroyed their respective economies.

"Indeed, sports is a bridge towards normalcy, friendship and future cooperation among the various countries in the world. In behalf of the organizers and ABAP, I would like to welcome the Iraqi national boxing team in the qualifying tournament," said Lopez.

Two more Asian qualifyings in China and Pakistan will be held later this year.

Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said just like the rest of competitors from not less than 25 countries, Iraq will be treated to the Filipinos’ well-known brand of hospitality.

The entry of Iraq adds to the excitement of the tournament which we are proud to host, said Reyes and Hagedorn.

"Palawan and Puerto Princesa are more inspired to make the event a resounding success in order to help in the promotion of goodwill among the competitors," Reyes said.

Both political leaders said everything is in place for the successful staging of the tournament in the country.

The people of Palawan and Puerto Princesa are excited and ready to prove that they can serve as wonderful, hardworking hosts for our Asian neighbors, they said.