Olympic Silver Medalist Urges Opportunity for Nabil in Boxing Push
Olympic silver medalist Vorapoj Phetkhum argues that boxer Nabil deserves a genuine opportunity with Thailand's national team, citing the lack of qualified candidates in the 70-kilogram division ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Vorapoj Phetkhum, silver medalist from the 2004 Olympic Games, discussed Thailand's boxing direction ahead of the 2028 Olympics with Somrak Khamsing, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist and two-time Asian Games champion who currently serves as technical development advisor to the Thai Amateur Boxing Association. Vorapoj stated he wants to see how Thai boxers perform at the 20th Asian Games in Japan between September 19 and October 4 before drawing conclusions about Olympic medal prospects.
Regarding the inclusion of Nabil in international boxing, Vorapoj argued that the boxer should be given a genuine opportunity to train with the national team and be allowed 5-6 months to adjust to the discipline and routine. He emphasized, "We shouldn't block him. Thailand has no one in the 70-kilogram division, and it's hard to find qualified candidates. When facing heavyweight boxers, we don't know how to approach it. Nabil already has the strength from Thai boxing, but he needs to build speed and footwork. If we can improve those aspects, I'm confident he can win a medal and has a real shot at the Olympics."
