Berlin: “Bew” Phuripol Boonson has successfully advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 100-meter race at the World University Games held in Germany. Meanwhile, “Baitei” Sasikarn Thongchan secured a bronze medal in the women’s 62-kg Taekwondo category.

According to Thai News Agency, the 32nd World University Games witnessed a thrilling first day of athletics competition. In the men’s 100m qualifying round, heat 2, Thai sprinter Phuripol Boonson from Bangkokthonburi University finished first with a time of 10.23 seconds. Boonson, who recently won a silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships, expressed excitement about competing against world-class athletes. He shared that his training in the United States has strengthened his performance, with the ultimate goal of winning a medal for Thailand.

In the women’s 400m qualifying heat 6, Chineye Josephine Onuorah, a Thai-Nigerian runner, secured a spot in the semi-finals by crossing the finish line in third place with a time of 54.42 seconds.

On the third day of Taekwondo, Thailand’s Sasikarn Thongchan, competing in the women’s 62 kg division, progressed through the rounds after defeating Anna Anastasova from Ukraine and Julia Martha Spark from Poland. However, Sasikarn was defeated by Sevval Kakal from Turkey in the semifinals, earning a bronze medal.

In the men’s 74 kg Taekwondo category, Thai athlete Jack Woody Mercer won his first-round match against Ronald Steven Rosas Gazon from Colombia but was eliminated in the second round by Omer Ferkan Korpe from Turkey. The Thai Taekwondo team concluded the event with a total of 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals.

In table tennis, the mixed doubles team of Wirakan Tayapitak and Naphat Thammathikom advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating Ece Haraj and Tukay Yilmaz from Turkey. However, they were defeated by the Japanese pair Kyoka Idezawa and Shunsuke Okano, missing out on a medal opportunity.