Steamed dumplings” suffered a recurrence of injuries, losing to their opponents from the Philippines, and being eliminated in the last 16 of the 2024 World Junior Taekwondo Championships.
The 2024 World Junior Taekwondo Championships, “Chuncheon 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships” held in Chuncheon, South Korea, yesterday saw 3 gold medals up for grabs.
In the 44 kg women’s division, “Beauty” Nattawee Wongchu, a 15-year-old kicker and gold medalist at the Korea Open 2024, made her debut in the first round, defeating Emma Gales from Sweden by a clear score of 2-0 before winning in the second round against Rueaya Erdem from Austria by an outclass score of 2-0. In the last 16, “Beauty” met a kicker from Vietnam, Bui Ngoc Tran, before the Thai female kicker won 2-0.
In the last 8, the winner will be guaranteed a bronze medal. “Beauty” will face Li Xiyong from China. This match was a fierce battle, with the Thai female kicker winning the first round 16-5, but then losing the second round 6-11, forcing a
final round decision. The two fought evenly before “Beauty” narrowly lost 6-7, losing 1-2 rounds and missing out on the bronze medal.
After the competition, “Beauty” said she was satisfied with her performance, even though she missed out on a medal, because she had done her best. In the final round of the 8, she kicked the Chinese athlete in the head, but time ran out. If she had been in time, the score would have turned around and won. From now on, she must try to improve herself more because she wants to join the senior national team and dreams of going to the Olympic Games.
Women’s 49 kg category “Kanom Jeeb” Natthakamon Wasana, the 2022 World Youth gold medalist in the 44 kg category and the 2023 Asian Champion in the 49 kg women’s category, made her debut in the first round, defeating Azri Cemre Zielan from Turkey 2-0 in sets, advancing to the round of 32. She defeated Alexandra Dimova from Bulgaria 2-0 in sets, advancing to face Tashiana Kasia Mankin from the Philippines in the round of 16. In this ma
tch, “Kanom Jeeb”, who had a knee injury, lost narrowly 0-2 in sets 2-7 and 0-1, and was eliminated in the round of 16.
“Khanom Jeeb”, 17, who will compete in the youth level for the last year, said after the competition with a sad face and tears, admitting that he still did not do well enough, was not strong enough. In many moments, he thought he could kick better. He had an ACL injury before the competition, but he tried not to think about the injury. However, he fell down when he met his opponent from Bulgaria in the round of 32, which caused him to twist his knee a little. However, he did not want to think that this was the main reason for the loss. From now on, he will focus on training harder to achieve his goal of joining the senior national team in the future.
For today’s program, there are 4 gold medals up for grabs. The Thai Taekwondo team will compete in all 4 categories, including the 42 kg women’s category, “Focus” Arisa Saelee, winner of the 2022 World Youth gold medal in Bulgaria; the 68 kg w
omen’s category, “Pin” Petchda Srijantuek, winner of the 2024 Korea Open silver medal; the 73 kg men’s category, “Q” Nattapat Meesuk, winner of the 2024 Korea Open silver medal; and the 78 kg men’s category, “King” Chananin Kulkuson, will compete.
Source: Thai News Agency